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I. Statement of Policy

All Hampshire College (“the College”) community members have the right to personal and sexual safety, respect, integrity, and freedom of expression, as long as such expression does not cause harm to others. The College seeks to maintain a safe learning, living, and working environment. To that end, the College and this policy prohibit Sexual Misconduct, an umbrella term that encompasses a broad range of behavior including Sexual Assault, Sexual Exploitation, and Sexual or Gender-Based Harassment; Relationship Violence (also known as Dating Violence, Domestic Violence or Intimate Partner Violence); Stalking; Complicity; and Retaliation against an individual for making a good faith report of conduct prohibited under this policy (collectively, “Sexual Misconduct Violations”). These forms of Sexual Misconduct Violations are unlawful, undermine the character and purpose of the College, and will not be tolerated.  These forms of Sexual Misconduct Violations are a subset of the behaviors prohibited for students under the Hampshire College Student Handbook and for employees under the Employee Policy Manual and the Faculty Handbook.

This policy has been developed to reaffirm these principles and to provide recourse for those individuals whose rights have been violated. This policy is intended to define community expectations and to establish a mechanism for responding when those expectations have been violated. Violations of this policy will be addressed by the accompanying procedures in Appendices A (Resource Guide and Procedures for Reports against Students) and B (Resource Guide and Procedures for Reports Against Employees).

Hampshire College adopts this policy with a commitment to: (1) eliminating, preventing, and addressing the effects of Sexual Misconduct Violations; (2) fostering a community of trust in which Sexual Misconduct Violations are not tolerated; (3) cultivating a climate where all individuals are well-informed and supported in reporting Sexual Misconduct Violations; (4) providing a fair and impartial process for all parties, and (5) identifying the standards by which violations of this policy will be evaluated and disciplinary action may be imposed. This policy defines Sexual Misconduct Violations; outlines available resources and reporting options available to students and employees; and references the applicable investigative and disciplinary procedures (Appendices A and B). Hampshire College will take prompt and equitable action to eliminate Sexual Misconduct Violations, prevent their recurrence and address their effects. The College also conducts prevention, awareness, and training programs for students and employees to facilitate the goals of this policy.

Hampshire College does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, religion, national origin, disability, previous military service or any other protected category in the admission of students, employment, access or treatment in its programs and activities or the administration of its educational and employment policies. Discrimination or harassment on the basis of these factors is in direct conflict with the mission of the College and strictly prohibited. 

This policy is designed to comply with applicable legal requirements including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”); relevant provisions of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (“VAWA”); Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”); the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (“Clery Act”); and, the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

Other forms of discrimination, including discrimination based on race, religion, and disability, as well as any other form of sex-based discrimination not covered by this policy, are addressed by: (1) the Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy for Employees, (2) the Faculty Handbook, and (3) the Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy for Students. This policy supersedes any conflicting provision contained in those policies.  Where Sexual Misconduct Violations violate this policy and also violate any other College policies, the College’s response will be governed by the procedures referenced in this policy and explained in its Appendices A and B, provided that this does not cause undue delay in prompt resolution of a report under this policy.  For questions about which policy applies in a specific instance, please contact Hampshire College’s Title IX coordinator, Zauyah Waite at 413.559.5412.