All forms of harassment are contrary to basic standards of conduct between individuals and are prohibited by state and federal law, as well as this policy, and will not be tolerated. The District is committed to providing an academic and work environment that respects the dignity of individuals and groups. The District shall be free of sexual harassment and all forms of sexual intimidation and exploitation including acts of sexual violence. It shall also be free of other unlawful harassment, including that which is based on any of the following statuses: race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation of any person, military and veteran status, or because they are perceived to have one or more of the foregoing characteristics.

The District seeks to foster an environment in which all employees, students, unpaid interns, and volunteers feel free to report incidents of harassment without fear of retaliation or reprisal. Therefore, the District also strictly prohibits retaliation against any individual for filing a complaint of harassment or for participating in a harassment investigation. Such conduct is illegal and constitutes a violation of this policy. All allegations of retaliation will be swiftly and thoroughly investigated. If the District determines that retaliation has occurred, it will take all reasonable steps within its power to stop such conduct. Individuals who engage in retaliatory conduct are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination or expulsion.

Any student, employee, unpaid intern, or volunteer who believes that they have been harassed or retaliated against in violation of this policy should immediately report such incidents by following the procedures described in AP 3435. Supervisors are mandated to report all incidents of harassment and retaliation that come to their attention.

This policy applies to all aspects of the academic environment, including but not limited to classroom conditions, grades, academic standing, employment opportunities, scholarships, recommendations, disciplinary actions, and participation in any community college activity. In addition, this policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to hiring, placement, promotion, disciplinary action, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, training opportunities, and compensation.

To this end the Superintendent/President shall ensure that the institution undertakes education and training activities to counter discrimination and to prevent, minimize and/or eliminate any hostile environment that impairs access to equal education opportunity or impacts the terms and conditions of employment.

The Superintendent/President shall establish procedures that define harassment on campus. The Superintendent/President shall further establish procedures for employees, students, unpaid interns, volunteers, and other members of the campus community that provide for the investigation and resolution of complaints regarding harassment and discrimination, and procedures for students to resolve complaints of harassment and discrimination. All participants are protected from retaliatory acts by the District, its employees, students, and agents.

This policy and related written procedures (including the procedure for making complaints) shall be widely published and publicized to administrators, faculty, staff, students, unpaid interns, and volunteers particularly when they are new to the institution. They shall be available for students, employees, unpaid interns, and volunteers in all administrative offices and shall be posted on the district’s website.

Employees who violate the policy and procedures may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination. Students who violate this policy and related procedures may be subject to disciplinary measures up to and including expulsion. Unpaid interns who violate this policy and related procedures may be subject to disciplinary measures up to and including termination from the internship or other unpaid work experience program.

Any sexual assault or physical abuse, including, but not limited to rape as defined by California law, whether committed by an employee, student or member of the public, that occurs on District property, is a violation of District policies and procedures, and is subject to all applicable punishment, including criminal procedures and employee or student discipline procedures. Students, faculty, and staff who may be victims of sexual and other assaults shall be treated with dignity and provided comprehensive assistance.

The Superintendent/President shall establish administrative procedures that ensure that students, faculty, and staff who are victims of sexual and other assaults receive appropriate information and treatment, and that educational information about preventing sexual violence is provided and publicized as required by law.

The District’s Procedures for Discrimination and Harassment complaints are available in Administrative Procedure 3435.

For additional information, visit our Title IX webpage by typing “Title IX” in the college’s search engine. To report any alleged violations, contact the Human Resources Office in the Administration Building or email humanresources@mpc.edu.