Title IX at Bates

Bates Technical College is committed to providing a healthy and productive environment for our students to learn and our employees to work. The college does not tolerate violent, harassing, threatening, or intimidating behavior toward our students, staff, faculty, or visitors. Students learn and employees work best when they know they have a supportive environment in which to do so. The safety of our students, staff, faculty, and visitors is our highest priority.

Bates Technical College offers our campus community professional staff, resources, training, and policies that help ensure a safe environment on and off campus. With these people, tools, and means in place, we are confident that we have created a college in which people can learn and work at their best.

If you are sexually assaulted

Find a safe place:

  • Your emotions may be confusing right now. That is normal in response to trauma. Know that it is not your fault.

Seek medical attention:

  • Take care of your injuries and preserve evidence. Don’t shower or brush your teeth, keep your clothes in a paper bag.
  • Go to a hospital emergency room and request a rape exam (also called a rape kit).

File a report:

Talk to someone and get support:

  • Pierce County Crisis Line, 1 (800) 576-7764
  • Pierce County Sexual Assault Center, (253) 474-7273 or 1-800-756-7273
  • Crystal Judson Family Justice Center, 253-798-4166 or 1-800-764-2420

What is Title IX?

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681) is an all-encompassing federal law that prohibits gender-based discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal funds. Title IX is most commonly associated with gender discrimination in sports and is credited with advancing participation of women in athletics. However, the scope of Title IX is much more broad. It prohibits gender-based discrimination in all college programs and activities.

Title IX protection from discrimination extends to faculty, staff and students and includes such things as: sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, gender-identity and pregnancy. It also prohibits retaliation against anyone who makes or participates in a complaint.

Intersection of Title IX and the Clery Act

Bates Technical College College complies with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

In compliance with Title IX, Bates Technical College does not tolerate sexual harassment or discrimination in its educational programs or activities. It is the college’s goal to maintain a respectful environment that is free from harassment, discrimination, bullying, hazing, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sexual violence, and rape. If you have experienced harassment, discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape, domestic/dating violence, stalking, bullying or hazing, or are aware of an incident, CALL OR GO TALK TO:

On Campus:

  • For students: Bates Title IX Coordinator, Director of Outreach, Advising and Conduct, Niraj Swami, niraj.swami@batestech.edu, 253-680-7102
  • For employees: Bates Human Resource Executive Director, kameil.borders@batestech.edu, 253-680-7180
  • Bates Campus Safety, 253-680-7111

Off Campus:

  • Pierce County Crisis Line, 1 (800) 576-7764
  • Pierce County Sexual Assault Center, (253) 474-7273 or 1-800-756-7273
  • Crystal Judson Family Justice Center, 253-798-4166 or 1-800-764-2420
  • Washington State Employee Assistance Program, (877) 313-4455
  • Local Police, 9-1-1

Sex Offender Notification:

Policy

The Board of Trustees authorizes the President to develop procedures for making appropriate notifications to the College community concerning known registered sex offenders whose presence may be reasonably expected on or near the College campus, according to RCW 9A.44.130 and RCW 4.24.550.

The extent of the disclosure of relevant and necessary information will be related to:

  1. The level of risk posed by the offender to the college community;
  2. The course/program locations of the College where the offender is regularly expected to be found; and
  3. The needs of the affected college community members for information to enhance their individual and collective safety.

Procedures

The College is notified.

Upon notification by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Tacoma Police Department, or other persons that a registered sex offender may be reasonably expected to be on or near the campus, the Chief Student Services Officer (CSSO), will determine if the offender has completed an admissions form and/or has registered for a course. If the offender is projected to be enrolled at the College, and is not currently enrolled, the offender will have a student identification created within the College’s registration department and a block will be placed on the offender’s student account until they meet with the CSSO.

Sex offender student meets with Chief Student Services Officer

As soon as possible, the offender will be contacted to meet with the CSSO and Sergeant of Campus Public Safety, or Health and Safety Manager to discuss the offender’s career goals, support services needed, notification requirements, coping with possible reactions of College community, and student rights and responsibilities that can be found in the Student Handbook.

Notification of the College Community when the potential student decides to enroll.

When the potential student decides to enroll, the CSSO provides written notification to the College Community accordingly with Level I, Level II, and Level III:

Level I-Low Risk to Re-offend

Notify: Chief Academic Officer (CAO), Chief Administrative Services Officer (CASO), Deans/Associate Deans, Campus Public Safety, Director of Daycare Center, Financial Aid staff, Library staff, and other affected faculty and staff.

  • No others are notified without consulting first with the CSSO.

Level II-Medium Risk to Re-offend

Notify: CAO, CASO, Deans/Associate Deans, Campus Public Safety, Director of Daycare Center, Financial Aid staff, Library staff, and other affected faculty and staff.  No others are notified without consulting first with the CSSO.

  • In addition, details of the issues and photo (if available) of the offender will be sent to Campus Public Safety Office with details and photo posted.
  • No others are notified without consulting first with the CSSO.

Level III-High Risk to Re-offend

Notify: CAO, CASO, Deans/Associate Deans, Campus Public Safety, Director of Daycare Center, Financial Aid staff, Library staff, and other affected faculty and staff.  No others are notified without consulting first with the CSSO.

  • In addition, details of the issues and photo (if available) of the offender will be sent to Campus Public Safety Office with details and photo posted.
  • No others are notified without consulting first with the CSSO.

Any Sex Offender discovered to be currently enrolled without undergoing these procedures must be immediately referred to the CSSO so that the procedures become immediately implemented.  The offender should not attend class until they have met with the CSSO.

Bates Technical College officials and employees are immune from civil liability for damages for any release of relevant and necessary information unless acting with gross negligence or in bad faith, in accordance with RCW 4.24.550.  All students are expected to abide by standards set forth in the Student Code of Conduct. (Student Handbook and College Catalog)

External Resources

Any student, employee, applicant for admission or employment, or member of the public using Bates Technical College facilities who believes he/she has been discriminated against has the right to bypass the internal college process and file a discrimination complaint with one of the agencies listed below or any other agency with the jurisdiction to hear such complaints. Individuals seeking assistance from state and federal agencies need to be aware that many agencies have strict timelines regarding the filing of complaints.

Sex Offender policy and procedure was last updated February 2018.

SEATTLE OFFICE
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
U.S. Department of Education
915 Second Avenue Room 3310
Seattle, WA  98174-1099
(206) 607-1600 · (800) 877-8339 TTY http://www.seattle.gov/civilrights/

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
909 First Avenue, Suite 400
Seattle, WA 98104-1061
(206) 220-6883 · (206) 220-6882 TTY www.eeoc.gov 

WASHINGTON STATE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
711 South Capitol Way, Suite 402
PO Box 42490
Olympia, WA 98504-2490
(360) 753-6770
1-800-300-7525 TTY
http://www.hum.wa.gov/

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office for Civil Rights
915 Second Avenue, Room 3310
Seattle, WA 98174-1099
(206) 220-7900 · (206) 220-7907 TTY www.ed.gov/ocr