Title IX & You
City Colleges of Chicago values the health and safety of every individual on campus and expects students and employees to treat other persons with respect and dignity.Title IX Rights
Title IX represents the federal law designed to prevent sexual assault and harassment of students on college campuses and promote gender equity in education. This includes protection from gender-based violence between any of the following groups: men, women, transgender people, and gender non-conforming persons. By filing a Title IX complaint, you have the right to ask for an Equal Opportunity (EEO) Office internal investigation and reasonable academic accommodations. To learn more about Federal Campus Sexual Assault Victim Bill of Rights, click here.
Complaint Submission and Review Process
- Follow the link (hardcopy / online) OR email eeofficer@ccc.edu
- An EEO representative will contact you shortly about your complaint
- An EEO investigation will ensue. To learn more about the step by step process, click here.
***A student has 180 DAYS from the date of the incident to file their complaint, even if the academic term is over.
What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination. It is conduct on the basis sex of that meets one or more of the following descriptions:
- An employee of the recipient conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the recipient on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct;
- Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the recipient’s education program or activity; or
- Sexual assault is defined as sexual penetration (oral, anal, or vaginal) by force or threat of force or an act of sexual penetration when the victim was unable to understand the nature of the act or was unable to give knowing consent.
Examples of sexual harassment include, but are not limited to:
| – sexual advances | – repeated date requests |
| – sexual gestures | – sexual cartoons or images |
| – discussions about sexual activity | – domestic violence |
| – dating violence | – stalking |
| – sexual misconduct | – sexual assault |
CCC Examples of Sexual Harassment
Department of Education Examples of Sexual Harassment
What is Sexual Assault?
Sexual assault is any sexual act directed against another person, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent. This includes:
- Penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person without the consent of the victim;
- The touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification without the consent, of the victim; and
- Sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law.
i. Refer to 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(v) of the Clery Act, “dating violence” as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(10) of the VAWA, “domestic violence” as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(8) of the VAWA, or “stalking” as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(30) of the VAWA for definitions.
What is Stalking?
Stalking occurs when an individual knowingly engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific person, and he or she knows or should know that this course of conduct would cause a reasonable person to a fear for his or her safety or the safety of others, or suffer substantial emotional distress. A person commits stalking when he or she knowingly and without lawful justification on at least two separate occasions follows another person or places the person under surveillance or any combination thereof, and at any time transmits a threat of immediate or future bodily harm, sexual assault, confinement, or restraint and the threat is directed towards that person or a family member of that person.
Examples of Sexual Harassment in Higher Education:
- A fellow classmate borrows a pencil in class. Afterwards, you see them following you to many of your other classes and soon following you home, texting you constantly, and getting angry with you for talking to other classmates.
- While studying in the library, a student asks to copy your work. When you refuse, they start making vulgar remarks about your clothing and make unwanted sexual advances.
- A professor who continually makes jokes about one of the female student’s menstrual cycle in the classroom, although she says she is uncomfortable and has asked him to stop.
- A teaching assistant tells a student that if they send inappropriate photos along with their homework, the assistant will give them a better grade.
- An academic advisor tells a prospective student that the advisor will "help" the prospective student (put them in already full class, give them extra credit assignments, etc) if he or she dates the advisor.
To learn more about possible violations, as well as definitions of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and stalking please visit the following page or email eeofficer@ccc.edu with your questions.
Support and Campus Resources at City Colleges:
We are here to support you. We understand that sexual harassment, sexual assault, and stalking can be difficult to discuss, and that many factors may be involved, including disability, race, religion, gender expression, academic stress, or a relationship with the assailant. The following resources are available to all CCC students (Campus Resource Directory)
| – The Office of Safety and Security: /SafetySecurity |
| – The Dean of Student Services at your college: /StudentServices |
| – The Title IX Coordinator at the District Office: (312) 553-2865 OR eeofficer@ccc.edu |
The Wellness Center: /WellnessCenter
The Wellness Center respects confidentiality is not required to report your assault unlike most faculty and staff under Title IX policy. The Wellness Center provides free and confidential counseling services and referrals to help you determine what is best to do for your self-care and healing.
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Promoting a Safer Campus
City Colleges of Chicago works to promote a safe campus and community. Therefore we encourage students to be active bystanders, allies, and take personal responsibility for the well-being of our campus communities. Here are nine tips on how to end sexual assault on campus:
1. Share resources and groups that help survivors.
The first step in helping survivors heal is to believe them. Research shows that only 2 percent of survivors disclose their sexual assault to the police.
2. Know your rights.
Look to the side bar to find documents listing legal rights, guidelines, and more. If you still have questions, email eeofficer@ccc.edu.
3. Write an op-ed.
Op-ed pieces can inform and influence readers and can bring considerable attention to this cause. Research campus sexual assault, and then write an op-ed for a school, local, or national newspaper or even a blog.
4. Use social media.
Social media tools can help spread awareness and advocate for social change. Use hashtags to start or join in conversations on Twitter, Tumblr, or Instagram (For example, use #ChicagoSaysNoMore). On Facebook, post articles and share events to get your friends in the know.
5. Start a conversation on victim-blaming and how to stop it.
6. Hold a bystander intervention session.
Bystanders can help prevent or stop sexual violence on campus and in other communities. Connect with programs that teach bystanders how to intervene in situations that involve sexual violence.
7. Get involved in national campaigns.
V-Day — Hold a performance or a film screening to raise awareness about violence against women and girls.
Take Back the Night — Take part in this after-dark march that is popular on college campuses, and make a statement that women have the right to be in public at night without the risk of sexual violence.
e – Sign the pledge that you do no tolerate violence in Chicago and bring the city campaign to your campus.
