Sexual misconduct and gender discrimination policy
Connecticut College has a comprehensive institutional Title IX policy for faculty, staff and students. The policy prohibits gender-based discrimination, including sexual misconduct, intimate partner violence, stalking, and retaliation. The policy also provides an overview of resources for support, reporting procedures, and resolution processes.
Find the Title IX Policy here (pdf)
Incidents occurring prior to August 14, 2020, please refer to the 2019-2020 Gender-Based Misconduct Policy (Title IX Policy) below:
Policies in brief
Acts of sexual misconduct may be committed by any person upon any other person, regardless of the sex, gender, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity of those involved.
Connecticut College's sexual harassment policy encompasses:
- Sexual harassment
- Sexual assault
- Dating violence
- Domestic violence
- Stalking
Consent
Consent is knowing, voluntary and clear permission by word or action, to engage in mutually agreed-upon sexual activity. Since individuals may experience the same interaction in different ways, it is the responsibility of each party to make certain that the other has consented before engaging in the activity. For consent to be valid, there must be a clear expression in words or actions that the other individual consented to that specific sexual conduct.
Dating Violence
Dating Violence is defined as violence, committed by a person, who is in or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the Complainant. The existence of such a relationship shall be based on the Complainant's statement and with consideration of the length of the relationship. For the purposes of this definition- Dating violence includes, but is not limited to, sexual or physical abuse or the threat of such abuse. Dating violence does not include acts covered under the definition of domestic violence.
Stalking
Stalking is defined as engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear for the person's safety, or the safety of others; or suffer substantial emotional distress.