Alma College 2022-10-19

Protect and Respect Our Scots - Civil Rights

A message from President Abernathy

 

The Civil Rights/Title IX team at Alma College is in place to help all members of the community pursue educational opportunities that are fair and free of discrimination.

Alma College complies with all relevant federal and state laws banning discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Titles VII and IX of the Civil Rights Act are designed to protect equality of educational opportunities for all students, and employment for all faculty and staff.

The college takes all reports of discrimination, sexual assault, misconduct or violence very seriously and we promptly and thoroughly investigate all allegations.

We all have a responsibility to keep the campus safe. The college welcomes your help in accomplishing this important task. All members of our campus community including parents are encouraged to report discrimination through this website. You can also find our full civil rights and Title IX policy on this site.

If you have questions or would like to speak to someone, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Civil Rights/Title IX Coordinator Dave Blandford at blandford@alma.edu or (989) 463-7251.

Jeff Abernathy
President

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Title IX?

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Title IX is a federal law protecting the rights of all students to equal opportunities in education, regardless of gender. While Title IX is commonly viewed in terms of its relationship to athletics, it also protects students against sexual harassment and sexual violence. Alma College’s Title IX policies provide a framework for supporting survivors of sexual misconduct and procedures for investigating and hearing reported cases of sexual misconduct.

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Should I seek counseling if I’ve experienced sexual misconduct?

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The choice to seek counseling is completely up to you. Many people have found it helpful to have someone to talk with confidentially, but the decision should be based on your needs at the time.

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How long does the process take from reporting to the conclusion of a hearing?

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Once a complaint has been filed with the Title IX Coordinator and the formal reporting and investigation process begins, the entire process should be completed within 60 business days. However, the process can be shorter or longer, depending on the circumstances surrounding the case.

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What can happen to a person who is accused and found in violation of Title IX?

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Many different sanctions can be levied against a person who is responsible for a policy violation. Depending on the severity of the violation, the responsible party can be sanctioned with anything from mandatory counseling to expulsion.

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Do I have to report a violation of Title IX?

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You are not required to report any violation of Title IX or incident of sexual misconduct. However, it is important to remember that if you contact a person who is required to report such incidents, he or she will report the incident regardless of whether you wish to file a complaint.

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Who is the Title IX coordinator and what does that person do?

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The Title IX Coordinator for Alma College is Dave Blandford. They oversee all Title IX reporting, procedures and policy enforcement, as well as training and prevention initiatives regarding Title IX and civil rights issues.

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Contact Us

Civil Rights/Title IX Coordinator

David Blandford
blandford@alma.edu
(989) 463-7251

Deputy Civil Rights/Title IX Coordinators

Jon Glenn
Director of Diversity and Inclusion
glennjb@alma.edu

Alice Kramer
Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement
krameram@alma.edu

Brianna Harfmann
Associate Professor, Integrative Physiology and Health Science
harfmannbd@alma.edu

Kiana Verdugo
Associate Athletics Director for Operations and Compliance/SWA
verdugoks@alma.edu