Need to report something?

Complaints involving sexual misconduct by an employee, student, vendor, or visitor should be reported to:

Terri Edrich, VP for Human Resources/CHRO 
636-922-8300
tedrich@stchas.edu
SC 203

Reports involving sexual misconduct or sex discrimination may also be reported externally to: 
Office for Civil Rights, Kansas City Office
U.S. Department of Education
One Petticoat Lane.
1010 Walnut Street, Suite 320
Kansas City, MO 64106
Telephone: 816-268-0550
Email: OCR.KansasCity@ed.gov

Your Safety is First Priority 

After an incident of sexual violence, consider seeking medical attention as soon as possible. As time passes, evidence may dissipate or become lost or unavailable, thereby making investigation, possible prosecution, disciplinary proceedings, or obtaining protection from abuse orders related to the incident more difficult. 

Campus Police
SCC Main Campus, Campus Services Building
636-922-8545

Public Emergency Services
911 

Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital
10 Hospital Drive
St Peters, MO 63376
Phone: 636-916-9000

Progress West Hospital
2 Progress Point Parkway
O'Fallon, MO 63368
Phone: 636-344-1000

SSM St. Joseph Health Center
300 First Capitol Drive
St. Charles, MO 63301
Phone: 636-947-5000

SSM St. Joseph Hospital West
100 Medical Plaza Lake
Saint Louis, MO 63367
Phone: 636-625-5200

Evidence Preservation
It is important that a victim of sexual assault does not bathe, douche, smoke, change clothing or clean the bed/linen/area where assaulted if the offense occurred within the past 96 hours, so that evidence may be preserved that may assist in proving that the alleged criminal offense occurred or may be helpful in obtaining a protection order. In circumstances of sexual assault, if victims do not opt for forensic evidence collection, health care providers can still treat injuries and take steps to address concerns of pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease. Victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and dating violence are encouraged to also preserve evidence by saving text messages, instant messages, social networking pages, other communications, pictures, and available logs.

Law Enforcement
Although the College strongly encourages individuals to report violations of this policy to law enforcement, it is the individual’s choice whether or not to make such a report and to accept or decline involvement with law enforcement. The College will assist with notifying the police if desired. Reports of sexual violence to the Department of Public Safety/Campus Police (DPS) will be considered a report to law enforcement and Campus Police may proceed with pursuing a criminal investigation and/or criminal charges with or without the reporting party’s consent.

The College does not publish the name of crime victims nor house identifiable information regarding victims in the Campus Police Daily Crime Log or online. Victims may request that directory information on file be removed from public sources by request from the Student Life office.

Ex-Parte Orders of Protection 
The College complies with Missouri law in recognizing an Ex-Parte Order of Protection or Full Order of Protection. Any person who obtains an order of protection against a member of the campus community should provide a copy to Department of Public Safety/Campus Police (DPS) and the Title IX Coordinator. The individual may then meet with DPS/Campus Police to develop a Safety Action Plan, which is a plan for DPS and the individual to reduce risk of harm while on campus or coming and going from campus. This plan may include, but is not limited to: escorts, special parking arrangements, changing classroom or work locations, and allowing a student to complete assignments from home. The College cannot apply for a legal order of protection, no contact order, or restraining order on behalf of an individual. The individual is required to apply directly for these services. According to Missouri State Statute 455.015, Venue: The petition shall be filed in the county where the petitioner resides, where the alleged incident of domestic violence occurred, or where the respondent may be served. Protection from abuse orders should be applied for at the court house with jurisdiction for the reporting party’s home address.

The College may issue an institutional no contact order if deemed appropriate. To the extent of the individual’s cooperation and consent, SCC offices will work cooperatively to ensure that the reporting party's health, physical safety, work, and academic status are protected, pending the outcome of the College’s investigation/disciplinary procedures. For example, if reasonably available, a reporting party may be offered changes to academic schedule or campus working situations in addition to information regarding counseling, health services, visa and immigration assistance, and law enforcement. Personally identifiable information about the reporting party will be treated as confidential to the extent possible and will be shared with those who have a business need to know due to their involvement in the College’s investigation/disciplinary procedures or their involvement in delivering resources or support services to the individual. For example, publicly available recordkeeping for purposes of Clery Act reporting and disclosures will be made without inclusion of identifying information about the individual, as defined in 42 USC 1395 (a) (20).) 

Confidentiality

CONFIDENTIAL HELP WITHOUT FILING A REPORT 
Students:
On-Campus Confidential Help:
Mental Health Counselor
636-922-8571
ADM 1123 

Faculty/Staff:
Employee Assistance Program
ComPsych
888-628-4809; 800-697-0353 (TDD)


Though the College encourages all individuals to bring reports sexual misconduct to the attention of the Title IX Coordinator, credit-seeking students who wish to maintain confidentiality may contact the mental health counselor, provided by the College free of charge for credit-seeking students, at 636-922-8571. 

Unlike reports of sexual misconduct made to other College officials (which must be reported to the Title IX Coordinator), credit-seeking students can speak with the mental health counselor confidentially and absent the student’s consent, such reports or conversations will not be reported to the Title IX Coordinator for further investigation. Please note that the mental health counselor will not be able to maintain confidentiality when there is a threat of harm to oneself or another. 

Employees who wish to maintain confidentiality may contact the Employee Assistance Program at 888-628-4809; 800-697-0353 (TDD) for confidential assistance.

Individuals who wish to maintain confidentiality may also speak with off-campus rape crisis or domestic violence counselors and off-campus members of the clergy and chaplains.

If a reporting party requests confidentiality, the College will take all reasonable steps to investigate and respond to the complaint while respecting the reporting party’s request for confidentiality; however, complete confidentiality may not be possible. 

The College will take reasonable steps to investigate anonymous reports related to sexual misconduct, although the ability to respond to anonymous reports may be limited.

What Happens When a Report is Filed?

FOLLOWING A REPORT OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, THE TITLE IX COORDINATOR, OR DESIGNEE, WILL:

• Provide the reporting party with referrals for medical care if appropriate;
• Assess the immediate safety needs of the reporting party;
• Provide the reporting party with contact information for the Department of Public Safety/Campus Police (DPS) and assist with making the contact if the reporting party requests;
• Inform the reporting party of the availability of counseling, health, mental health, victim advocacy, legal assistance, visa and immigration assistance, and other needed services on and off campus including crisis hotline phone numbers;
• Assess the need to implement interim and long-term protective measures, such as academic schedule and campus work accommodations, and provide those accommodations if reasonably available and requested by the reporting party;
• Provide a “no contact” directive if deemed appropriate;
• Provide the reporting party with written instructions on how to apply for a protective order if desired; and
• Provide the reporting party with a copy of applicable policies and procedures; and
• Inform the reporting party regarding timeframes for inquiry, investigation, and resolution.

The College will work collaboratively with the Department of Public Safety/Campus Police (DPS) and the local police department unless otherwise prohibited by law. However, the College will not delay its investigation/disciplinary procedures pending the final results of a criminal investigation or proceeding.

For concerns involving sexual harassment and sexual violence, if the reporting party does not wish to proceed with the investigation/disciplinary procedures, Title IX may require that the College “take reasonable action” in response to the complaint. The Title IX Coordinator or designee must weigh the reporting party’s wish not to proceed and a request for confidentiality with:

• The seriousness of the alleged conduct;
• Whether there have been other complaints of the nature against the same responding party; and
• The responding party’s right to receive information regarding the allegations under FERPA.

INTENTIONAL FALSE REPORTINGS AND REPORTS MADE IN BAD FAITH

The College expects all reports of concern to be made in good faith and intentionally false reporting of concerns and reports made in bad faith, such as an act of retaliation, may result in disciplinary sanctions. False reporting may also be a violation of state criminal statutes and civil defamation laws.

INTERIM MEASURES

Following a report of sexual violence or sexual harassment, the Title IX Coordinator will determine whether interim measures should be implemented and are reasonably available, and, if so, take steps to implement those interim interventions as soon as possible. Examples of interim measures include: a college order of no contact, adjustment of course schedules, a leave of absence, reassignment to a different supervisor or position, or interim/administrative suspension. These remedies may be applied to one, both, or multiple parties involved. Violations of directives and/or interim measures may result in corrective action in accordance with the policy noted below in the Sanctions and Appeals section. Interim measures imposed may be temporary pending the results of the investigation/disciplinary procedures or may become permanent as determined by the College.

PROCESS TIME FRAME

Investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct will be completed as soon as practicable and typically concludes within 60 days. In the event the time frame will extend beyond 60 days, the reporting and responding parties will be notified in writing.

Amnesty for Student Alcohol/Drug Use by Reporting Party

The College recognizes that students who have been drinking and/or using drugs (whether such use is voluntary or involuntary) at the time an incident of sexual violence occurs may be hesitant to report such incidents due to fear of potential consequences for their own conduct. The College strongly encourages students to report incidents of sexual violence to campus officials. A student bystander reporting in good faith or a student victim reporting sexual violence will not be subject to campus conduct action for violations of alcohol and/or drug use policies occurring at or near the time of the sexual violence.

Retaliation Is Prohibited

The College strictly prohibits retaliation of any kind against an individual for reporting sexual misconduct pursuant to this policy, assisting someone with a complaint of sexual misconduct, or participating in an investigation/disciplinary procedures following a complaint of sexual misconduct. Examples of such prohibited retaliation include threats, intimidation, reprisals, adverse employment actions, or adverse educational actions. Any incidents of alleged retaliation should be immediately reported. In the event that retaliation is found to have taken place, sanctions will be governed by policy noted below in the Sanctions and Appeals section.

Board Policy Statement

The College prohibits any actions of sexual harassment by students, employees, or visitors. The College adheres to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Jeanne Clery Act, and similar laws and regulations and takes appropriate action to address concerns of sexual harassment in a fair and timely manner.

Article I.07 Sexual Harassment (Policy)
Article I.07 Sexual Harassment (Procedures)