Cougars Creating Positive Change
As members of the Columbus State community, we create our college culture – one person,
one decision at a time. Each of us play an important role in effecting positive change
on the Columbus State campus.
Designed specifically to support the success of Columbus State students, Cougars Creating Positive Change (CCPC) is a training series focused on addressing the critical issue of the impact of sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence, on the pursuit of higher education. CCPC explores how all Columbus State Cougars can effect positive change in our community by learning how the College addresses concerns of sexual harassment; understanding consent; implementing risk reduction tips and bystander intervention strategies; and responding to a disclosure from a friend or classmate with care and compassion.
At Columbus State, the Compliance Office addresses concerns of sexual harassment, but we are not alone in this work. Together with our student body, we can support a welcoming, respectful and healthy environment for all members of our community.
You can jumpstart your learning about this important topic by reading the frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers below. They will help you understand the college process to address sexual harassment and the options and resources available. While you can explore this page in any order, we recommend starting with the FAQs as “Module One” of your training because they will give more context to the videos that follow.
Module 1: College Process Frequently Asked Questions
There are many types of sexual harassment including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual violence is another type of sexual harassment. Acts of sexual violence include sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. These acts are against college policy and the law. Learn more about how Columbus State and Ohio Law defines these terms.
The College uses specific terms to refer to the victim and the accused in situations of potential sexual harassment.
- Complainant refers to an individual who is alleged to have experienced sexual harassment.
- Respondent refers to an individual who is alleged to have committed sexual harassment.
The College’s procedure to address an allegation of sexual harassment is a multi-step process.
The formal process involves making a complaint, Compliance providing written notice to the parties (the person who reported experiencing sexual harassment and the person accused), a neutral investigation, sharing evidence for review with the parties and writing a report. The matter is then referred to a hearing in Human Resources when the respondent is an employee or to the Office of Student Conduct when the respondent is a student. The process also includes an appeal opportunity. You may learn more by reviewing College Procedure 3-44 (A) and the flowchart below.
College Procedure 3-44 (A) Flowchart
The situations in which the college can begin the formal multi-step process to address allegations of sexual harassment are known as the college’s jurisdiction. The Title IX Coordinator decides if alleged sexual harassment is within the college’s jurisdiction.
Even if the matter is not within the college’s jurisdiction, the Compliance Office always can offer supportive measures and resources. Furthermore, complainants and respondents are always encouraged to consult with Compliance to explore these supports whether or not they engage in the formal multi-step process to address potential sexual harassment.
Not all information reported to Compliance results in an investigation. We also have conversations about college expectations and offer educational opportunities. The goal is stopping the behavior, not penalizing individuals. The way we remedy the effects of the behavior depends on what is required in a particular situation.
In every situation, our objective is to address behavior and/or barriers that prevent students from being able to learn and work in the Columbus State environment, so everyone in our community can excel.
Sometimes, this means only providing supports to the person who reports experiencing sexual harassment so that they can continue their education, work and/or participation in other college activities. If we do not initiate an investigation, we do not need to notify the person who has been accused. The Compliance Office will always consider the desire of the person who reports experiencing the sexual harassment and the overall impact of the reported behavior to our college community.
Share information with Compliance by completing the secure online form at www.cscc.edu/complianceconcern or by contacting Title IX Coordinator Joan Cook at jcook60@cscc.edu or 614-287-2636. While you can consult with any member of Compliance, the college’s Title IX Coordinator is specifically responsible for overseeing all complaints of potential sexual harassment. The contact information for everyone in the Compliance Office is listed on the Compliance webpage.
If you are sharing a concern of sexual harassment on behalf of someone else, a member of the Compliance Office will acknowledge the contact within two business days and may ask you for additional information to help them further address the situation.
When you or another individual shares a concern with Compliance, the information is kept private. This means that information will only be shared as necessary to respond to the concern and provide for the safety of individuals and the College. Learn more about privacy.
Privacy is different from confidentiality. When information is confidential, it will not be shared except in limited circumstances, such as an imminent threat of harm or where there is knowledge or suspicion of child abuse or neglect.
Confidential resources include: licensed counselors, medical providers, attorneys, clergy and certified rape crisis counselors.
The Compliance Office uses discretion in all of its work, but it is not a confidential resource.
When an individual shares a concern of sexual harassment with Compliance, a member of the Compliance team reaches out to the complainant (the person experiencing the potential sexual harassment) to:
- Assess their immediate needs and offer supportive measures.
- Share information about college and community resources.
- Provide information about the college’s process for addressing concerns of sexual harassment and their rights and options within that process.
If the matter proceeds to an investigation, a member of the Compliance team contacts the respondent to offer supportive measures, share information about resources and the college’s process and their rights and options within that process.
Due to the sensitive nature of matters involving sexual harassment and to maintain our college culture of care and prevent barriers to student success, all employees are strongly encouraged to consult Compliance about potential sexual harassment.
This is a list of some of the employees who must report based on their role. This is not an exhaustive list.
- Employees of the Columbus State Police Department
- Employees of Human Resources
- Non-student employees of the Office of Student Conduct
- Administrative employees with managerial responsibilities, including all academic chairpersons
The types of employees who are required to report is likely to expand with new federal regulations due to take effect in early 2024. The Compliance Office will share further information with our college community at that time.
The Compliance Office strongly encourages all employees to follow best practices and consult with our office about situations that could be sexual harassment. Employees can share information with a member of the Compliance Office without sharing names of the people involved, and Compliance will inform them if they are required to report based on the nature of their role and the situation.
Furthermore, any employee or volunteer who learns of the potential sexual abuse of a minor must report it to law enforcement or child protective services. Unless the minor is in immediate danger, in which case the employee or volunteer should directly contact law enforcement, employees and volunteers are strongly encouraged to contact Compliance Office. Compliance will facilitate making the report to the appropriate authority.
Sexual violence is a specific type of sexual harassment which includes sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. Complainants and respondents involved in an allegation of sexual violence have particular rights and options. Learn more about rights and options.
All parties to an allegation of any type of sexual harassment, not just sexual violence, have the right to an advisor of their choice. This advisor may accompany them to any meeting or proceeding.
If you or another member of our college community has experienced sexual violence, the Compliance Office maintains information on how to seek medical attention, preserve evidence and contact support.
Supportive measures help students regain or maintain their participation in college programs or activities, including employment, when they have experienced or been accused of sexual harassment/sexual violence. Learn more about supportive measures.
Compliance maintains a listing of confidential and non-confidential resources available both within the college and the larger community for students and employees. Learn more.
Module 2: Consent
Consent is an important term to understand because obtaining consent to sexual activity is necessary for healthy, respectful sexual interactions and because whether someone consents to sexual activity determines whether a sexual boundary has been crossed which may be or may lead to an assault. This module reviews the key elements of how Columbus State defines consent, how to ask for consent and provides an opportunity to practice what you’ve learned.
Whether you are hooking up with someone for the first time or in a long-term relationship, knowing how to ask for consent is an important skill. This graphic from the National Sexual Violence Research Center (NSVRC) outlines how to ask for consent. This approach incorporates the key elements of how Columbus State defines consent and focuses on the importance of communication.
Module 3: Risk Reduction
This video module reviews how people who commit sexual violence, otherwise known as forcing unwanted sexual activity, may use guilt and/or intimidation to pressure another person into sexual activity and what someone can do if they feel pressured in a sexual situation. It is important to remember that while only those who commit sexual violence are responsible for their actions, as a community, we all can take steps to increase our own safety.
Module 4: Bystander Intervention
One way that you can embrace your voice and help to create the kind of culture we want at Columbus State is through bystander intervention. This module explores how individuals can positively impact Columbus State’s culture by being direct, causing a distraction, delegating to a person with authority and/or delaying the intervention until after the situation has resolved.
Preventing sexual harassment is everybody’s responsibility. An engaged bystander is someone who lives up to that responsibility by intervening before, during or after a situation when they see or hear behaviors that threaten, harass or otherwise encourage sexual violence. This graphic from the National Sexual Violence Research Center (NSVRC) outlines why bystander intervention matters and how to be a good bystander.
Bystander Intervention Tips & Strategies Handout
Module 5: Students Responding to a Disclosure
It can take a lot of courage to share a concern about sexual harassment. You can have a positive impact on Columbus State’s culture by responding with care and compassion when someone tells you that they have experienced sexual harassment.
Continue Your Learning
Together, we can support a welcoming, respectful and healthy learning and working environment for all members of the Columbus State community.
We encourage everyone in our community to view more educational videos and handouts on the Compliance Office's training webpage and sign-up for live in-person and online trainings on CougarConnect for continued practice in being an active bystander and responding to a disclosure.
Additionally, the College describes its ongoing prevention and awareness campaigns for students and employees to promote the awareness of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking and prevent this behavior in its Annual Security Report.
As always, if you have any questions about this information or want to share a concern about potential sexual harassment, please contact a member of the Compliance Office team. We are here to listen and guide you to appropriate options and resources.