Washington Administrative Code › Title 132U - Whatcom Community College › Chapter 132U-305 - Supplemental Title IX procedures › Section 132U-305-030 - Initiation of investigation

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
Any employee, student, applicant, or visitor who believes that
				he or she has been the subject of discrimination or harassment should report
				the incident or incidents to the college's Title IX coordinator identified
				below. If the complaint is against that coordinator, the complainant should
				report the matter to the president's office for referral to an alternative
				designee.
The college encourages the timely reporting of any incidents of
				discrimination or harassment. Complaints may be submitted in writing or
				verbally. For complainants who wish to submit a written complaint, a formal
				complaint form is available online at
http://www.whatcom.edu/home/showdoc-ument?id=360.
Hardcopies of the complaint form are available in the Human Resource Office,
				Laidlaw Center (LDC) 235.
The following college officials are designated to handle
				inquiries regarding this policy:
Name: Benjamin Reed
Title: Title IX & ADA Coordinator
Office: Laidlaw Center (LDC) 208
Contact: breed@whatcom.edu
Address: 237 W. Kellogg Rd., Bellingham, WA 98226
Name: Becky Rawlings
Title: Executive Director for Human Resources, Title IX/EEO
				Coordinator
Office: Laidlaw Center (LDC) 235
Contact: brawlings@whatcom.edu
Address: 237 W. Kellogg Rd., Bellingham, WA 98226
The Title IX coordinator(s) or designee:
* Will accept all complaints and referrals from college
				employees, applicants, students, and visitors;
* Will make determinations regarding how to handle requests by
				complainants for confidentiality;
*Will keep accurate records of all complaints and referrals for
				the required time period;
* May conduct investigations or delegate and oversee
				investigations conducted by a designee;
* May impose interim remedial measures to protect parties
				during investigations of discrimination or harassment;
* May recommend specific corrective measure to stop, remediate,
				and prevent the recurrence of inappropriate conduct.
Any employee, applicant, student, or visitor of Whatcom
				Community College may file a complaint. Complaints may be submitted in writing
				or verbally. The college encourages the timely reporting of any incidents of
				discrimination or harassment. Complaints may be submitted in writing or
				verbally. For complainants who wish to submit a written complaint, a formal
				complaint form is available online at
http://www.whatcom.edu/home/showdocument?id=360
.
				Hard-copies of the complaint form are available in the Human Resource Office,
				Laidlaw Center (LDC) 235. Any person submitting a discrimination complaint
				shall be provided with a written copy of the college's antidiscrimination
				policies and procedures, as well as a copy of this policy.
Upon receiving a discrimination complaint, and determining that
				the requirements of WAC 132U-305-020(1)(a) through (c)    have been met, the
				college shall commence an impartial investigation. The Title IX
				coordinator/designee shall be responsible for overseeing all investigations.
				Investigations may not be conducted by the Title IX coordinator, and the
				college may contract with a third-party as investigator. Once the investigation
				is assigned to someone other than the Title IX coordinator, the Title IX
				coordinator shall inform the complainant and respondent(s) of the appointment
				of an investigator.
(1)
Supportive measures:
The Title IX coordinator/designee will
			 promptly contact all necessary parties to coordinate supportive
			 measures.
(2)
Interim
			 measures:
The Title IX coordinator/designee may impose measures to
			 protect the complainant and/or respondent pending the conclusion of the
			 investigation. Interim measures may include, but are not limited to, imposition
			 of no contact orders, rescheduling classes, temporary work reassignments,
			 referrals for counseling or medical assistance, and imposition of summary
			 discipline on the respondent consistent with the college's student conduct code
			 or the college's employment policies and collective bargaining
			 agreements.
(3)
Investigation:
Complaints shall be thoroughly and impartially
			 investigated. The investigation shall include, but is not limited to,
			 interviewing the complainant and the respondent, relevant witnesses, and
			 reviewing relevant documents. The investigation shall be concluded within a
			 reasonable time, normally ninety days barring exigent circumstances. At the
			 conclusion of the investigation, the investigator shall set forth his or her
			 findings and recommendations in writing. The investigator shall send a copy of
			 the findings and recommendations to the Title IX coordinator/designee. The
			 Title IX coordinator/designee shall send that final investigation report to the
			 decision maker.
(4)
Written
			 notice of conclusion:
The Title IX coordinator/designee will provide
			 each party and the appropriate student services administrator or appointing
			 authority with written notice of investigative findings, along with access to
			 the report. All parties will have up to ten days to submit, in writing, a
			 meaningful response to the findings of fact in the report.
(5)
Final investigation report:
Ten days after the written notice of conclusion, the investigator will submit
			 the final investigation report, with findings of fact using a preponderance of
			 evidence standard, to the Title IX coordinator.