Title IX, Harassment, Discrimination

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. "Education programs and activities" include all of a school's operations, including employment and school-sponsored athletics and activities (on or off campus).

Title IX protects students, employees and third parties with a relationship to the College, whether on or off campus. This includes:

• Students (including high school students participating in Columbus State programs, visiting students and visiting student athletes)
• Faculty, staff and interns
• Applicants for employment or education
• Campus visitors

It prohibits sex discrimination in educational institutions, programs and activities. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Sexual assault
• Domestic, intimate partner and dating violence

• Gender-based stalking

• Sexual harassment (Type A page 8) 
• Failing to provide appropriate accommodations for a pregnant or parenting student
• Treating a person differently based on marital status

Please see Procedure 3-44 (A) Sexual Harassment/Sexual Violence for the College’s definitions of stalking; domestic, dating and intimate partner violence and types of sexual assault.

Ohio does not have a legal definition for dating violence, sexual assault or consent. Ohio does define specific types of sexual assaults and within these definitions, it explains what consent is not.

You may access legal definitions for the following in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC):

Sex offenses http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2907.

Stalking http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2903.211

Domestic Violence http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2919.25

Discrimination is any act or failure to act based in whole or in part on a person's or group's sex (a protected class), that when viewed objectively, adversely affects benefits,privileges, working conditions, educational or athletic conditions or negatively impacts a substantial College interest. Sexual harassment/sexual violence is one type of sex discrimination and is addressed by Policy 3-44 Sexual Harassment/Sexual Violence and Procedure 3-44 (A) Sexual Harassment/Sexual Violence. Sex discrimination that is not prohibited conduct under Procedure 3-44 (A) will be addressed by Policy 3-43 Discrimination/Harassment/Retaliation.

Not every type of sex discrimination is sexual harassment/sexual violence. Each case is evaluated by Compliance on an individual basis. Sex discrimination that is not sexual harassment/sexual violence is addressed by Policy 3-43, Non-Discrimination/Anti-Harassment.

Columbus State is committed to maintaining a workplace, academic and athletic environment free of discrimination and harassment. The College shall not tolerate discriminatory or harassing behavior by or against employees, faculty members, vendors, customers, students or other persons participating in a College program or activity. Employees and students are expected to assist in the College's efforts to prevent discrimination or harassment from occurring.

While the College does not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment, the Discrimination/Harassment Policy is intended to cover discrimination and harassment based on a protected class. Protected classes for purposes of this policy are sex, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information (GINA), military status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, status as a parent of a young child or a foster parent and gender identity and expression. Please see Policy 3-43, Discrimination/Harassment.

This form does not address general complaints related to conflicts in your academic or work environment that are not directly related to one of the protected classes listed above. Complaints such as these should be addressed with your Instructor or Department Chairperson or to your Supervisor or Human Resources Business Partner.

A person who experiences sexual misconduct has the option to report anonymously through the online report form; however, the College’s investigation and response to anonymous complaints likely will be limited. If the anonymous report includes a crime, it will be included in the College’s crime statistics. Supervisory employees are not permitted to submit anonymous reports about students or about or against individuals within their reporting structure, unless the supervisory employee also is the victim.

If you have information about potential sexual violence/sexual harassment or another type of discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment or retaliation based on a protected class, click on the link below to submit a complaint and a representative of Compliance will contact you within two (2) business days.

Submit a Complaint

Secure Reporting

The College uses a secure reporting format to address the situation in a prompt and efficient manner. The online report form is sent directly to the Title IX Coordinator and appropriate Compliance Officer(s). This is the College's preferred method of reporting.

IMPORTANT: Your report will be reviewed during business hours. If you have an emergency, please call 911 or the College Police at (614) 287-2525.

Complaints also can be filed with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of Education, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Retaliation in any form against an individual who brings forth a good faith allegation of discrimination and/or harassment, participates in an investigation of discrimination and/or harassment or supports someone involved in a report of discrimination and/or harassment is strictly prohibited by College policy and state and federal law. Examples of retaliation include, but are not limited to, intimidation; threats or actual violence against the person, their family or property; adverse educational or employment consequences; ridicule; bullying; and ostracism or attempting any such actions. Retaliation also includes encouraging someone else to take such actions against an individual for reporting discrimination and/or harassment, participating in a discrimination and/or harassment investigation or supporting someone involved in a report of discrimination and/or harassment.

Retaliation in any form against an individual who exercises their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act and its Amendments (ADA/ADAAA) and/or under Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is strictly prohibited. Examples of retaliation include, but are not limited to, intimidation; threats or actual violence against the person, their family or property; adverse educational or employment consequences; ridicule; bullying; and ostracism or attempting any such actions. Retaliation also includes encouraging someone else to take such actions against an individual who exercises their rights under ADA/ADAAA and/or FMLA.

Retaliation also includes the following

• Intimidating, threatening, coercing or discriminating against any individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by College Procedure 3-44 (A) Sexual Harassment/Sexual Violence or by Title IX and its implementing regulations;
• Intimidating, threatening, coercing or discriminating against any individual because the individual has made a report or complaint, testified, assisted, or participated or refused to participate in any manner in an investigation, proceeding or hearing under Procedure 3-44 (A) or under Title IX and its implementing regulations; and
• Pursuing charges against an individual for code of conduct or disciplinary violations that do not involve sex discrimination or Sexual Harassment (Type A), as defined by Procedure 3-44(A), but arise out of the same facts or circumstances as a report or complaint of sex discrimination or a report or Formal Complaint of Sexual Harassment (Type A), as defined by Procedure 3-44 (A) for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by Procedure 3-44 (A) or under Title IX and its implementing regulations.

Retaliation is a serious violation that can subject the offender to sanctions, and allegations of retaliation should be promptly reported to the Compliance Office.

Renee Byers, Deputy General Counsel
rbyers7@cscc.edu (614) 287-5519

Joan Cook, Compliance Supervisor/Title IX Coordinator
jcook60@cscc.edu (614) 287-2636

Jolene Broshious, Senior Compliance Officer
jbroshious@cscc.edu (614) 287-5106

Jordan Lochard, Compliance Officer
jlochard@cscc.edu (614) 287-3955

Columbus State Police Department
(614) 287-2525

For additional resources, see the Resource Page.

A complaint also may be filed with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights (OCR):

Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 325
Cleveland, OH 44115-1812

Phone: (216) 522-4970

TDD: (800) 877-8339
Email:OCR.Cleveland@ed.gov