BP 3433: Prohibition of Sexual Harassment

All forms of sex discrimination including sex-based harassment are contrary to basic standards of conduct between individuals. State and federal law and this policy prohibit sex discrimination and Mt. Hood Community College will not tolerate sexual discrimination including sex-based harassment. The college is committed to providing an academic and work environment that respects the dignity of individuals and groups. The college shall be free of sex discrimination. 

The college seeks to foster an environment in which all employees, students, applicants for employment, and applicants for admission, and other individuals participating or attempting to participate in the college’s education program or activity feel free to report incidents of sex discrimination in violation of this policy and Title IX, without fear of retaliation or reprisal. Therefore, the college also strictly prohibits retaliation, including peer retaliation, against any person for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by Title IX, or because the person has reported possible sex discrimination, made a sex discrimination complaint, or participated or refused to participate in any way in the college’s Title IX process The college will investigate all allegations of Title IX retaliation pursuant to its Title IX procedures. If the college determines that someone has retaliated, it will take all reasonable steps within its power to stop such conduct. Individuals who engage in Title IX retaliatory conduct are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination or expulsion. 

Any employee, student, applicant for employment, or applicant for admission, and other individuals participating or attempting to participate in the college’s education program or activity 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 AR 3434 Responding to Sex Discrimination under Title IX.  The college requires supervisors to report all incidents of harassment and retaliation that come to their attention. 

To this end the president shall ensure that the institution undertakes education and training activities to counter sex discrimination and to prevent, minimize, or eliminate any sex discrimination including sex-based harassment that impairs access to equal education opportunity or impacts the terms and conditions of employment. 

The president shall establish procedures that define sex discrimination and sex-based harassment. The president shall further establish procedures that provide for the investigation and resolution of complaints regarding sex discrimination in violation of this policy, and procedures to resolve complaints of sex discrimination in violation of this policy. State and federal law and this policy prohibit retaliation against any person for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by Title IX, or because the person has reported information, made a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated or refused to participate in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under the Title IX regulations.  

The college will publish and publicize this policy and related written procedures (including the procedure for making complaints) to administrators, faculty, staff, students, applicants for employment, and applicants for admission, particularly when they are new to the institution. The college will make this policy and related written procedures (including the procedures for making complaints) available in all administrative offices and will post them on the college’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. Volunteers or unpaid interns who violate this policy and related procedures may be subject to disciplinary measure up to and including termination from the volunteer assignment, internship, or other unpaid work experience program. 

Adopted: 8/19/20

Revised:  2/16/22
9/4/24

References: Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972;
34 Code of Federal Regulations Part 106