What is Title IX ?

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education.

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” -Legal Citation: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 (Title IX)

The University System of Georgia is committed to ensuring a safe learning environment that supports the dignity of all members of the University System of Georgia community. The University System of Georgia does not discriminate on the basis of sex or gender in any of its education or employment programs and activities. To that end, this policy prohibits specific forms of behavior that violate Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The University System of Georgia will not tolerate sexual misconduct, which is prohibited, and which includes, but is not limited to,

Domestic Violence
Dating Violence
Sexual Assault
Sexual Exploitation
Sexual Harassment
Stalking.

The University System further strongly encourages members of the University System community to report instances of sexual misconduct promptly. These policies and procedures are intended to ensure that all parties involved receive appropriate support and fair treatment, and that allegations of sexual misconduct are handled in a prompt, thorough and equitable manner.

South Georgia State College does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs, activities, employment or admissions and prohibits such discrimination by students, faculty, and staff. Non-discrimination on the basis of sex is mandated by Title IX if the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq).

THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO FILE A REPORT

Option 1 - Contact Title IX Coordinator

Email	titleix@sgsc.edu
Phone	(912) 260-4375

Option 2 - Contact Law Enforcement

SGSC Campus Police

Douglas

Waycross

Douglas Campus Police
Tiger Village I
1st Floor, West Wing
912-384-7675

Waycross Campus
Administration Building
912-287-4335

Douglas Police Department
225 W Bryan St
Douglas, GA 31533
912-384-2222

Coffee County Sheriff Department
825 Thompson Dr
Douglas, GA 31535
912-384-4227

Waycross Police Department
512 Oak St
Waycross, GA 31501
912-287-2921

Ware County Sheriff Department
3487 Harris Rd
Waycross, GA 31503
912-287-4326

Option 3 - Submit an Anonymous Complaint

SGSC Title IX Anonymous Complaint Form

This option is designed so that students, faculty, and staff can report suspicious activity and crimes while remaining anonymous.

If you have witnessed a crime, or if you know of a crime that was committed or will be committed, simply fill out and submit the form. A member of South Georgia State College will investigate the information provided. You will not be contacted unless you provide your contact information. All tips will remain anonymous.

This form is intended to assist Title IX coordinators at SGSC, and is not intended for crimes in progress or for emergencies. Dial 911 for those emergencies.

TITLE IX ADDITIONAL INFO

Title IX Process

There are four major stages to the Title IX process: Complaint intake, informal resolution (before or after the investigation), the investigation, and the hearing.

COMPLAINT INTAKE

When a report is filed, the Title IX Coordinator will reach out to the Complainant (the person who experienced the reported conduct) to go over their options on how to resolve the report. The Complainant is provided several options on what to do with their report. Depending on the nature of the report, the Complainant may request:

Accommodations and support measures
To keep the report on file and not move forward with an investigation
To have the Title IX Coordinator speak directly with the Respondent (the person who is alleged to have committed the conduct) through an educational, non-disciplinary, non-punitive conversation
Informal resolution before an investigation (Note: all parties must agree and this typically would not result in a finding of misconduct for the Respondent)
Informal resolution after an investigation (Note: all parties must agree and this may result in a finding of misconduct for the Respondent)
Formal resolution after an investigation through the hearing process

For cases that follow the Title IX, the Complainant must indicate in writing to the Title IX Coordinator if they wish for the report to move into the investigation phase.

INFORMAL RESOLUTION

Informal resolution is an agreement the Complainant, Respondent, and Institution come to in closing a complaint. There are two points in the process where a report can be resolved through informal resolution: before an investigation begins or after an investigation has taken place. Informal resolution prior to an investigation does not typically result in a finding of misconduct for the Respondent; however, informal resolution after an investigation may result in a finding of misconduct for the Respondent. The Complainant and Respondent have the option to end informal resolution and request a formal process at any time before a resolution is reached. Once informal resolution is reached, it is not appealable.

Examples of informal resolution include: A no contact agreement, educational workshops, a reflection paper, etc. For informal resolution after an investigation, examples may also include disciplinary probation, suspension, or other sanctions consistent with the conduct process.

INVESTIGATION

Once an investigation has been requested, or alternatively the Title IX Coordinator has signed a formal complaint, an investigator will be assigned. This is an impartial individual whose role is to collect as much information as possible from the Complainant, Respondent, and any other parties who have relevant information to share related to the complaint. The investigator will also collect any evidence the Complainant, Respondent, or other parties have such as text messages, videos, screenshots from social media, pictures, etc.

The investigator will start by reaching out to the Complainant to schedule an interview. This is the Complainant’s opportunity to share their story with the investigator. Once the investigator has met with the Complainant, a Notice of Investigation will be sent to the Complainant and Respondent, which includes the identities of both parties, the alleged conduct, and the date and location of the incident (if known). This is also the Respondent’s opportunity to respond to the allegations and share their story through written statement and/or through a meeting with the investigator.

All parties have the opportunity to have a support person or advisor with them during the investigation process. Additionally, the Complainant and Respondent in student Sexual Misconduct cases can be involved as much, or as little, as they choose.

After interviews have been conducted and information has been collected, the investigator will draft an investigation report which summarizes the relevant information and evidence, including whether there is sufficient information to warrant further consideration and adjudication of the alleged policy violation(s). This report will be shared with the Complainant, Respondent, and their advisors, if applicable. Both parties will have the opportunity to respond to the report, if they choose.

HEARING

If a case is not resolved through informal resolution after the investigation, the report will be finalized and sent to the Office of Student Conduct (students) or Human Resources (employees) for adjudication. A copy of the final investigation report will also be shared with the Complainant, Respondent, and their advisors, if applicable. The appropriate office will assign a hearing officer who will communicate with both parties to discuss the details of the hearing process. The Complainant and Respondent will also be given the opportunity to provide witnesses they would like called at the hearing. For cases that follow the Title IX procedures, the Complainant and Respondent must have an advisor at the hearing who will conduct cross examination. If either party does not have an advisor, the institution will provide one for them.

The hearing panel will be made up of three trained faculty or staff members. The Complainant and Respondent may request to provide testimony in a separate room from the other party, so long as no party is unfairly disadvantaged, and they have the opportunity to view the testimony remotely and submit follow-up questions.

Once a decision has been made by the hearing panel, the Complainant and Respondent have the opportunity to submit an appeal based on limited grounds.

Accommodations and Interim Measures

Accomodations and interim measures are implemented to address the impact of a reported incident of sex-based discrimination or sexual misconduct. Accommodations are those actions provided to the individual who is requesting them for themselves, such as adjustments to an individual’s academic, working, or living arrangements. Parties may speak with the Title IX Coordinator to determine what may be appropriate for them.

Examples of accommodations include:

No contact agreements
Room changes
Faculty notifications
Parking adjustments
Course adjustments
Reporting supervisor changes
Work schedule or location changes
Other adjustments to address the individual needs

Interim measures may be implemented by the institution at any point after the institution becomes aware of the alleged sexual misconduct and should be designed to protect any student or other individual in the USG community. To the extent interim measures are imposed, they should minimize the burden on both the Complainant and the Respondent, where feasible.

Interim measures include, but are not limited to:

Change of housing assignment
Issuance of a “no contact” directive
Restrictions or bans to entering certain institution property
Changes to academic or employment arrangements, schedules, or supervision
Interim suspensions
Other measures designed to promote the safety and well-being of the parties and the institution’s community.

The issuing of an accommodation or interim measure does not mean a decision has been made regarding the investigation, only that an accommodation or interim measure is supported by the available information.

Pregnant and Parenting Students

To ensure a pregnant student’s access to educational programs, a school must make adjustments that are reasonable and responsive to the student’s temporary pregnancy status. These adjustments are known as "accommodations" under Title IX. Accommodations often require mutual cooperation between the student and professor to develop and implement.

SGSC is obligated to provide the following accommodations:

Absences due to pregnancy. Excused absences due to pregnancy or childbirth for as long as the student's doctor says it is necessary;
If medical leave is necessary, the student must be allowed to return to the same academic and extracurricular status the student had before medical leave began, which should include providing the student with an opportunity to make up missed work;
Ensure that instructors understand Title IX requirements related to excused absences and medical leave. Instructors may not refuse to allow a student to submit work after a deadline the student missed because of pregnancy or childbirth. If the teacher’s grading is based in part on class participation or attendance and the student missed class because of pregnancy or childbirth, the student should be allowed to make up the participation or attendance credits the student did not have the chance to earn; and
Provide pregnant students with the same special services it provides to students with temporary medical conditions.

As a general matter, students must be afforded reasonable academic accommodations due to pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, to the extent that such accommodations would not result in a fundamental alteration of the academic program or impose an undue burden on the University. Students should be given an opportunity to make up missed work, to the extent possible, and be provided with flexibility in how the missed work will be made up.

To request reasonable accommodations for pregnancy and childbirth, contact Carmen James, Title IX Coordinator at carmen.james@sgsc.edu. Please note, you will be required to provide documentation from an appropriately licensed medical professional indicating the requested accommodations are medically necessary.