NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

It is the intent of Sterling College, through its policy on equal opportunity, to comply with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; Executive Order 11246, Section 504, of the Rehabilitation At of 1973; and all the related regulations. Sterling College, in compliance with these acts, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in admission or access to, treatment, or employment in its programs and activities. 

WHAT IS TITLE IX?

Title IX is a federal law which prohibits discrimination based on sex in any educational program or activity.  Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 reads “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 educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Sex-Based Discrimination Includes: Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault or any form of Sexual Misconduct or violence, Dating and Domestic Violence, Stalking, or Retaliation against any participating party or witness to a Title IX incident. Pregnancy, Nursing & Parenting complaints may also be considered as sex-based discrimination, under Title IX. 

Sterling College stands fundamentally opposed to any form of sexual harassment (which includes gender discrimination, sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking) and will do all in its power to promote an environment that allows students, faculty, and staff to be free from the intimidation and coercion that accompanies such actions. 

WHO SHOULD A COMPLAINT BE REPORTED TO?  

Any person may report sex discrimination, including sexual harassment (whether or not the person reporting is the person alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination or sexual harassment.) Reports may be made in person, by mail, by telephone, or by electronic mail, using the contact information listed for the Title IX Coordinator, or by any other means that results in the Title IX Coordinator receiving the report. Such a report may be made at any time by using the telephone number or electronic mail address, or by mail to the office address, listed for the Title IX Coordinator.

TITLE IX COORDINATOR 

Richard Webb, Title IX Coordinator

125 W Cooper Avenue
Sterling, KS 67579
Sterling College
Kelsey Hall, Room #304
titleix@sterling.edu
richard.webb@sterling.edu
Office 620-278-4215
TIX cell 620-204-0025

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR REPORTING OR ASSISTANCE

Jason Briar, VP for Student Life 
Student Life Office 
jason.briar@sterling.edu 
620-278-4232 

Sterling Police Department 
118 N Broadway Ave Sterling, KS 
620-278-2100 Or 9-1-1 in cases of emergencies 

RD ON DUTY
620-278-6218

REPORTING AN INCIDENT OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

Any student or employee victim of sexual misconduct may report the incident directly to any employee. ALL employees are mandated to report sexual misconduct incidents to the Title IX Coordinator except for those identified and mandated as Confidential Resources.

CONFIDENTIALITY IN REPORTING AN INCIDENT OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

Should a victim wish to report an incident of sexual misconduct confidentially, incidents may be reported to mandated confidential sources including the campus chaplain's office, campus sexual assault advocate, campus medical office, or the campus counseling office. These professionals are not required to report any incident to any other department/person due to their position within this college. Confidential reporting may be made in person, by mail, by telephone, or by electronic mail, using the contact information listed for Confidential Resources, or by any other means that results in the designated confidential party receiving the report. Such a report may be made at any time by using the telephone number or electronic mail address, or by mail to the office address, listed for the Confidential Resource.

CONFIDENTIAL REPORTING RESOURCES

Sterling Campus Counselor
Kelsey Hall, Room #113
danika.drake@sterling.edu
620-278-4297

Sterling College Campus Pastor
Student Union Building
Student Life Office
jose.carrillo@sterling.edu
620-278-4251

Campus Health Director
Student Union Building
Medical Office
nurse@sterling.edu
620 278-4505

REPORTING INCIDENTS TO THE POLICE

Individuals are strongly encouraged to report all incidents to the police; however, it is the individual’s decision whether or not to file a police report. If the individual wishes, the College will aid in contacting the police and accompanying her/him to the hospital and/or police station. Individuals will have access to support and referral services on-campus regardless of whether she/he decides to report the incident to the police. Individuals are strongly encouraged to have both a medical exam to ensure their well-being and a rape kit collected in order to gather forensic evidence. When relevant, victims of sexual offenses have the right to seek an order of protection, no contact order, restraining order, or similar lawful order.

POLICE CONTACT INFORMATION

Sterling Police Department
118 N Broadway Ave
Sterling, KS
620-278-2100   
Or 9-1-1 in cases of emergencies

OTHER RESOURCES

Rice County District Hospital
619 S. Clark
Lyons, KS
620-257-5173

Hutchinson Regional Medical Center – Hutchinson Hospital
1701 E. 23rd
Hutchinson, KS
620-665-2000
(Please call prior to arrival if possible)

Sterling Medical Center
239 N Broadway
Sterling, KS
620-278-2123

Sexual Assault Advocate at Brighthouse
Cami Ryan
107 E Ave North
Lyons, KS
620-257-3272
620-663-2522  (24-hour crisis line)

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY OF INFORMATION 

Sterling College will make every effort reasonably possible to maintain privacy of an individual who makes a report through the Title IX Office and to protect the information reported, subject to the “due process” rights of an accused. The degree to which confidentiality or privacy can be protected however, also depends upon SC’s legal duty to respond to the information reported and the professional role of the person being consulted. Employees, not mandated as a Confidential Resource, do NOT have the choice of keeping reports private or confidential. Any employee being consulted by a disclosing party, should make these limits clear before their disclosure of any facts.

As required by law under the Clery Act, all disclosures to any SC employee (except clergy, sexual assault advocate, campus nurse, and campus counselor) of an on-campus act of sexual misconduct are tabulated for statistical purposes without personal identifying information.

PROHIBITION AGAINST RETALIATION

All persons are absolutely prohibited from taking any action against any other member of the College community, including but not limited to, the complainant, respondent, or witnesses to an alleged incident of sexual misconduct. Any person engaging in any retaliatory action(s) will be subject to a separate complaint and appropriate sanctions for determined violations up to and including suspension from the College.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Title IX Policy

Title IX Brochure

Title IX Training Archive