Title IX

"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." - Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.


Title IX prohibits all schools, colleges, and universities, which receive federal funds, from discrimination on the basis of sex. Sexual discrimination under Title IX includes sexual harassment and sexual violence, including rape and sexual assault. In addition, the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (aka Clery Act) requires institutions of higher education to comply with certain campus safety- and security-related requirements as a condition of their participation in the title IV, Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended, to the original HEA programs. The Clery Act requires all colleges and universities that participate in federal financial aid programs to maintain and disclose information related to crime on college campuses, including sexual assault. Another additional  law, notably, the Violence Against Women's Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA) amended the Clery Act to now require institutions to compile statistics for incidents of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking and to include certain policies, procedures, and programs pertaining to these incidents in their annual security reports.
 

GCC Commitment

Guam Community College (GCC) is committed to achieving equal opportunity education free of sexual discrimination and harassment. GCC also strives to ensure that safety for each individual, inclusive of students, employees, or visitors, is provided campus-wide, including safety from any threat of sexual discrimination, harassment, or violence. Members of the GCC campus community are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not infringe upon nor violates the rights of others. GCC strictly follows and enforces all federal laws and guidelines guaranteed under Title IX and enforced by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights in ensuring that all students are free of sexual discrimination in any form. GCC's commitment to a campus free of Sexual Discrimination and Harassment is found in GCC's Board of Trustees Policy 185: SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION PREVENTION, which states, in part: "Sanctions will be imposed on employees, students, or other members of the College community who violate this policy in accordance that adopted employee/student codes of conduct and disciplinary procedures, personnel rules and regulations, guidelines contained in employee/student handbooks, the College catalogue, Board/Union collective bargaining agreements, territorial and federal law, and other procedures established by the College for purposes of implementing this policy." This policy can viewed in its entirety by following the link at bottom of this page.

 

Title IX Compliance Statement

The Guam Community College does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the admission to or employment in its education programs or activities. Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations should be referred to the College's Title IX Coordinator, located at the Office of Accommodative Services/Title IX Coordinator. Inquiries may also be made to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR).

Guam Community College encourages individuals who believe they may have experienced discrimination or harassment in violation of the College's policy, or are aware that another person has allegedly engaged in such discrimination or harassment, to report such information using the GCC complaint process. An investigative review of such a complaint will be conducted expeditiously. Complaints will be resolved promptly within established timelines as outlined in the College's policies and procedures. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent appropriate in due consideration of the circumstances. In addition to these procedures, complaints may also be filed with the Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education:  


Office of Civil Rights - San Francisco Office
50 Beale Street, Suite 7200
San Francisco, CA 94105

 

SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION PREVENTION

As required by the Higher Education Amendments of 1992 and Title IX of the Education Act Amendment of 1972 Guam Community College promotes awareness of rape, acquaintance rape, and other sex offenses and the procedures for reporting offenses in its Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Complaint/Grievance Procedures. The College does this by providing training on campus on issues related to Title IX and Sexual Discrimination.

Climate surveys will be conducted periodically to monitor the awareness and needs of the campus community in regards to sexual discrimination and harassment. Trainings, resources, and strategies will be developed based on the results of the climate surveys.

For a better understanding of Title IX and the services of the Title IX office at GCC, please spend a few minutes reading the information below.
 

FAQs

What are the purposes of the Title IX Office?

1. Ensure that all students, faculty, and employees experience a campus free of sexual discrimination and harassment.
2. Work closely with the administration and faculty in an advisory and monitoring capacity.
3. Assist in the development of policies, procedures, and guidelines that protect the rights of all members of the campus community                     
4. Provide training and awareness of all persons' rights as protected under Title IX.

Who is responsible for Title IX compliance at GCC?

The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for monitoring that GCC is in compliance with all Title IX and federal policies regarding Sex Discrimination.

How can I get more information on the policies and procedures for filing a complaint regarding Title IX / Sexual Discrimination / Sexual Harassment?

• Students should contact: the Title IX Coordinator, Student Support Services, or the Environmental Health and Safety Office. Staff in these offices will be able to guide or direct the student to someone who can assist in the complaint process. Students should try to be familiar with the Complaint Process and their rights as outlined in the GCC Student Handbook and the GCC Title IX Grievance Procedures.         
• In cases of faculty, staff, and other employees wishing to know more about the complaint process or if they wish to file a complaint are directed to see the Human Resources Office for guidance.

 

Documents

• Board of Trustees Policy 185
• GCC Title IX Grievance Procedures 
• GCC Student Handbook 
• Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act)
• Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA) 
• Federal Register Volume 29, No. 202:  Department of Education 34 CFR, Part 668 Violence Against Women Act; Final Rule
• Annual Security Report (September 2023)

 

Community Information

• Title IX Federal Law
• Guam VARO 
• (Victim Advocates Reaching Out)
• Healing Heart Rape Crisis Center

 

ON-CAMPUS

Gerald Cruz, Title IX Coordinator
(671) 735-8887, Ext. 5630 
Rm. 5203, Student Center, Building 5000 (Center for Student Involvement) / Rm. C-1, Building C (Student Support Services) 

Student Support Services
(671) 735-5555
Rm. C-1, Building C

Health Services Center
(671) 735-5586
Rm. 5116, Student Center, Building 5000

Environmental Health & Safety Office
(671) 788-2223, (671) 735-5554, Ext. 5568/5569
Rm. 2219 & 2215, Student Services & Administration Building, Building 2000

Office of Accommodative Services
(671) 735‐5641 Ext. 5594 / 5597
Rm. 2138 & 2139, Student Services & Administration Building, Building 2000

Human Resources Office
(671) 735-5537
Rm. 2112, Student Services & Administration Building, Building 2000

Dean's Office - Technology and Student Services
(671) 735‐5641 Ext. 5620
Rm. 2228, Student Services & Administration Building, Building 2000

Dean's Office - Trades and Professional Services
(671) 735‐5589 Ext. 5578
Rm. 2223, Student Services & Administration Building, Building 2000

Center for Student Involvement
(671) 735-8887, Ext. 5518/5519
Rm. 5203, Student Center, Building 5000

Assessment & Counseling Department
(671) 735-5563, Ext. 5562/5576/5582/5593
Rm. 2133, 2134, 2135, & 2136
1st Floor of Building


OFF-CAMPUS

For emergencies, call 911

Non-emergency lines:
Guam Police Department: (671) 472-8911
Guam Fire Department: (671) 642-3321

Hotline/Help-Line Numbers
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - 988 (Call or Text) / 988lifeline.org (Chat)
Victim Advocates Reaching Out (VARO) Hotline - (671) 477-5552
Sanctuary Inc. Hotline - (671) 475-7100
Rape Crisis Intervention (Healing Hearts) Hotline - (671) 647-8833/4
Alee Women’s Shelter Hotline - (671) 648-HOPE (4673)
National Domestic Violence Hotline - 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
National Sexual Assault Hotline - 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Dating Abuse Helpline - 1-866-331-9474
Victim Services Center Hotline - (671) 475-2587

Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault & Family Violence
Ada Plaza Center, Building B – 101B/102B
204 Hesler Place, Hagatna, Guam 96910
Phone: (671) 479-2277
Email: info@guamcoalition.org
www.guamcoalition.org

Healing Hearts Rape Crisis Center
Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, 2nd Floor
790 Governor Carlos G. Camacho Road
Tamuning, Guam 96913
Phone: (671) 647-5351, (671) 647-8833/4 (Crisis Hotline)
Email: healing.hearts@gbhwc.guam.gov
www.gbhwc.guam.gov/services/healing-hearts-rape-crisis-center

Off-Island Resources
Office of Civil Rights—San Francisco Office
50 Beale Street, Suite 7200
San Francisco, CA 94105

Reporting Options for Victims of Sexual Discrimination/Misconduct:

• A detailed list of possible actions a student may take is found in both the GCC Student handbook and the GCC Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Complaint Grievance Procedures. A student may file an incident report /grievance/complaint with GCC using the grievance/complaint process, and in the cases of physical assault or threat, a criminal complaint with Guam Police. Both processes may take place concurrently. They are independent of each other. A student's decision to initiate or choose a complaint procedure or not is strictly voluntary. 
• The student should report the incident to Student Support Services or the Title IX Coordinator as soon as possible after an incident if they wish to make a complaint. However, all complaints will be documented and investigated no matter how long a gap in time has elapsed from the time of the incident to the time it is reported. The student should be aware that the longer time has elapsed from the time of the alleged incident to the time of reporting, the greater the chances that vital testimony, evidence, or proof may be lost or compromised. This should not deter a student from coming forward. 
• The student has a choice of making either an informal complaint or formal complaint. 
• The Title IX Coordinator will go over the complaint procedure options with the student and provide the student with all information needed for the student to make a complaint. Resources, both on-campus and off-campus will be made available for the student. 
• During the complaint process GCC will initiate interim procedures to protect the student. These procedures may include the separation of the student from the alleged perpetrator of the offense in classes, activities, and programs where there is the possibility of them interacting.  
• The College has timelines in which it must investigate the allegations and make a report. Decisions on what actions will take place will be based on the preponderance of the evidence found during the investigation. 
• In cases of a formal complaint, the accused must be notified that an investigation is taking place and that they will be interviewed. 
• Both the student making the complaint and the alleged perpetrator will be informed of the outcome concurrently. 

Step-By-Step Guide for Staff, Faculty, and Administrators in assisting students who disclose a sexual assault:

Step 1: Provide care or assistance for the student a soon as possible. Once an incident is reported the student must be provided as much support as possible.
            - First, ensure the physical safety of the student.
            - Provide for immediate medical assistance in case of emergencies.
            - Provide emotional support. Be non-judgmental. Inform the student of their rights.
            - GCC employees must document the incident as soon as possible.
 
Step 2: Provide student with resources. The student has choices as to who they may want to see or speak to. Do not re-victimize the student by forcing them to see
            someone or take part in a process they don't want to participate in.
            - Provide contact information for medical, psychological, and police support.
            - Provide contact numbers for victims' advocates groups. (VARO and Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence)
            - Provide contact numbers for counselors and other support.  Use the list of resources provided in the resource section.
 
Step 3: Provide all information to Title IX Coordinator if the student is filing a complaint.
         
Attention: (a) It is not the task of the staff or faculty to determine whether the Title IX Coordinator is notified. The T9C must be notified.
(b) It is also not the province of the staff or faculty to determine whether the allegations are true or false before rendering assistance. You must assist the student as soon as possible.