Sexual Harassment

According to your civil rights, no one should discriminate against you or harass you because of your:

• Gender
• Sex
• Race or Color
• Age
• Creed or National/Ethnic Origin
• Physical or Mental Disability
• Veteran or Military Status
• Pregnancy Status
• Religion
• Genetic Information
• Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation

It’s called discrimination when someone behaves in ways that are to your disadvantage or detriment because of your gender, race or other civil rights classifications. When the action is to your detriment, it’s called “discriminatory harassment.”

The person’s behavior must be severe or ongoing and limit your ability to access or benefit from FRCC’s programs, classes or activities.

Discrimination and harassment violate your rights and are not allowed at FRCC.

Sexual misconduct also isn’t allowed. It includes:  

• Sexual Harassment, including stalking and bullying
• Non-Consensual Sexual Contact
• Non-Consensual Sexual Intercourse
• Sexual Exploitation

If you think your civil rights were violated and the violation happened on FRCC’s campuses or at college-sponsored events, you should file a complaint immediately, either by completing the form, telling Human Resources, Security of the Student Services Dean.

If the violation happened off-campus or online, it’s up to the Title IX Coordinator to decide whether you can file a complaint. Complaints probably will be investigated when the situation involves a:  

• Criminal offense
• Danger to people’s safety
• Significant effect on people’s rights, property or achievements
• Significant breach of peace
• Detrimental effect on education at the college

If you claim a civil rights violation, support someone else’s claim, or provide information about a claim and someone takes action against you because of it, that’s called retaliation. Retaliation takes various forms including spreading false rumors, someone who was friendly now snubs you or is mean to you, or someone ignoring you on an ongoing basis, when before they talked to you.  HR or the SS Dean can help you identify if retaliation occurs; they are here to help you.

Under no circumstances is retaliation allowed at FRCC.  

Any victim of or witness to a civil rights violation—including discrimination, harassment, and retaliation—should promptly report it to the Title IX Coordinator.

This includes all FRCC employees. If they become aware of a civil rights violation, they must report it within 24 hours whether or not the victim wants to file a complaint. 

Immediately after the violation, complete the Reporting Form or report your concerns to FRCC’s Title IX Coordinator.

You also may file a formal complaint with the United States Department Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in Denver by calling 303-844-5695 or emailing OCR.Denver@ed.gov.  

Expect FRCC to complete an investigation and implement sanctions, if needed, on average within 30 days to 60 days of filing a complaint.

If you don’t agree with the findings of the investigation either as a complainant or respondent, you may reject them in-part or in-full by filing a written objection with FRCC’s Title IX Coordinator. An appeals hearing will follow the written objection.

This can be confusing and at times overwhelming. If you don’t understand and need help understanding the process, please reach out to either your Dean of Student Services or the Human Resources Department.  They can help you understand the steps needed to move forward and provide both on-campus and off-campus resources for you.