Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy
General Policy Statement
Colorado Technical University, (hereinafter “the School”) does not discriminate, or tolerate discrimination against any member of its community on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex/gender, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law in matters of admissions or in any aspect of the educational programs or activities it offers.
Harassment, whether verbal, physical or visual, that is based on any of these characteristics, is a form of discrimination. This includes harassing conduct affecting tangible educational benefits, interfering unreasonably with an individual's academic performance, or creating what a reasonable person would perceive is an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.
Additional information regarding the School’s prohibitions against sex discrimination (including sexual harassment, sexual assault, and sexual violence) and disability discrimination are set forth below.
While the School is committed to the principles of free inquiry and free expression, discrimination and harassment identified in this policy are neither legally protected expression nor the proper exercise of academic freedom.
Examples of discrimination and harassment may include (but are not limited to):
- refusing to offer educational opportunities to someone because of the person's protected status;
- making a grading decision because of the person's protected status;
- jokes or epithets about another person's protected status;
- teasing or practical jokes directed at a person based on his or her protected status;
- the display or circulation of written materials or pictures that degrade a person or group based upon a protected characteristic; and
- verbal abuse or insults about, directed at, or made in the presence of an individual or group of individuals in a protected group.
Policy against Sex Discrimination (including Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, and Sexual Violence)
Applicable Federal Law
This policy supplements the general policy statement set forth above and addresses the requirements of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”). Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities. Title IX states as follows:
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
Discrimination on the basis of sex (i.e., sex discrimination) includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, and sexual violence.
Policy Statement
As noted above, it is the policy of the School to provide an educational environment free of all forms of sex discrimination, including but not limited to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct or communications constituting sexual harassment, as defined in this policy and as otherwise prohibited by state and federal statutes. Sexual harassment, including acts of sexual assault and sexual violence, is a form of sex discrimination and is prohibited at the School. This prohibition against discrimination on the basis of sex applies to all students, faculty, and staff, to other members of the School community, and to contractors, consultants, and vendors doing business or providing services to the school.
Title IX Coordinators
Any inquiries regarding Title IX or the School’s Policy Against Sex Discrimination should be directed to one or more of the Title IX Coordinators identified below. These Coordinators will be available to meet with or talk to students regarding issues relating to Title IX and this policy.
Lead Title IX Coordinator
Jaimie Krech
Ombudsman
231 N. Martingale Road
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Tel: 224-293-5963
Fax: 847-586-7992
jkrech@coloradotech.edu
The Lead Title IX Coordinator is responsible for implementing and monitoring Title IX Compliance on behalf of Colorado Technical University and all of its campuses. This includes coordination of training, education, communications, and administration of the complaint and grievance procedures for the handling of suspected or alleged violations of this policy.
Deputy Title IX Coordinators
Campus Support Center
231 N. Martingale Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Tel: 847-585-2608
E-mail: CTUOnline_Title9Coordinator@coloradotech.edu
Colorado Springs
4435 North Chestnut St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Tel: 719-590-6795
E-mail: CTUColoradoSprings_Title9Coordinator@coloradotech.edu
Denver
3151 S. Vaughn Way
Aurora, CO 80014
Tel: 303-632-2300
E-mail: CTUDenver_Title9Coordinator@coloradotech.edu
The Deputy Title IX Coordinator is responsible for implementing and monitoring Title IX compliance at the School and for notifying the Lead Title IX Coordinator of any alleged or suspected violations of this policy and the resolution of such alleged or suspected violations, regardless of whether a grievance is submitted.
Definition and Examples of Conduct Prohibited Under this Policy
Prohibited conduct includes all forms of sex discrimination and sexual harassment, as well as sexual assault and sexual violence. Sexual harassment, which includes sexual assault and sexual violence, may take many forms.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment may consist of repeated actions or may even arise from a single incident if sufficiently extreme. The complainant and the alleged perpetrator may be of either gender and need not be of different genders. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature where:
- submission to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of an individual’s education, status in an academic course or program, or participation in an activity;
- submission to, or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for a decision affecting an individual’s education, status in an academic course or program, or participation in an activity; or
- such conduct is intended to or would objectively be regarded by a reasonable person as (i) unreasonably interfering with an individual’s academic performance in a course or program, or participation in an activity, or (ii) creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive learning or educational environment.
Depending on the circumstances, sexual harassment may include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Physical assaults of a sexual nature, such as rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, molestation, or attempts to commit these acts;
- Intentional physical conduct that is sexual in nature such as touching, pinching, patting, grabbing, poking, or brushing against another individual's body;
- Offering or implying an education-related reward (such as a better grade, a letter of recommendation, favorable treatment in the classroom, assistance in obtaining employment, grants or fellowships, or admission to any educational program or activity) in exchange for sexual favors or submission to sexual conduct;
- Threatening or taking a negative educational action (such as giving an unfair grade, withholding a letter of recommendation, or withholding assistance with any educational activity) or intentionally making the individual's academic work more difficult because sexual conduct is rejected;
- The use or display in the classroom, including electronic, of pornographic or sexually harassing materials such as posters, photos, cartoons or graffiti without pedagogical justification; and
- Unwelcome sexual advances, repeated propositions or requests for a sexual relationship to an individual who has previously indicated that such conduct is unwelcome, or sexual gestures, noises, remarks, jokes, questions, or comments about a person's sexuality or sexual experience.
Sexual Assault and Sexual Violence
Sexual assault/sexual violence is a particular type of sexual harassment that includes physical sexual acts perpetrated against a person’s will or where a person is incapable of giving consent due to the victim’s use of drugs or alcohol. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to inappropriate touching, sexual intercourse of any kind without consent, rape, and attempted rape.