Civil Rights and Title IX

The Community College of Aurora is firmly committed to maintaining a work and learning environment where students and employees are treated with dignity and respect. Sexual harassment, sexual misconduct and acts of civil rights discrimination are illegal, often demeaning for the individual student or employee, and can disrupt the College’s positive learning and working environment. As such, all members of the College community have a responsibility to be aware of what behaviors constitute these actions/violations and to help create an environment free of harassment and/or discrimination.

Policies and Procedures

For more information about CCA’s policies and procedures related to discrimination and harassment, please visit SP 19-60a- Civil Rights & Sexual Misconduct Resolution Process.

Retaliation Statement

The College prohibits any acts of retaliation. Retaliation is defined as any adverse employment or educational action taken against a person because of the person’s participation, or perceived participation, in a complaint or investigation of discrimination and/or harassment. Retaliation also includes any act to intimidate, threaten, coerce, or discriminate against any individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege provided by applicable civil rights laws, policies, and procedures.

Overview and Purpose

What is Title IX?

Title IX is a federal law passed in 1972 that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity. Since then, law has been further defined to include all forms of sex and gender-based discrimination or harassment, including sexual or gender based harassment, non-consensual sexual contact, nonconsensual sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking. The Community College of Aurora is committed to providing an environment free from discrimination, harassment and violence based upon sex, sexual, orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression or pregnancy status.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

The Community College of Aurora and CCCS further define our commitment to nondiscrimination in our Board Policy 19-60. This policy affirms that all individuals associated with CCCS are protected from discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex, gender, race, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, familial status, veteran, or military status, pregnancy status, religion, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity, or any other protected class or category under applicable local, state or federal law ( also known as “civil rights laws”) in connection with employment practices or educational programs and activities ( including in admissions).

For more information about the College’s policies, procedures, and definitions related to discrimination and harassment complaints, including Title IX, see:

• SP 19-60a

Reporting

To Report Civil Rights Discrimination, Harassment, or Sexual Misconduct at the Community College of Aurora, Make a Report

Use the above-linked form to report incidents of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation to the CCA Title IX/ Equal Opportunity Coordinator. This includes discrimination and harassment on the basis of protected classes as stated in BP 19-60 and SP 19-60a. Reports may be filed anonymously or with reporting party contact information.

This includes sexual misconduct and other behaviors that violate Title IX:

• Dating and domestic violence
• Gender-based discrimination
• Sexual harassment
• Sexual assault
• Stalking

Any person may make a report of harassment and/or discrimination at any time. To make a report, use the link above or contact CCA’s Title IX/EO Coordinator, Erica Hines, at [email protected]

If you need support in completing the form, please contact [email protected] 

Employee Reporting Obligations

Community College of Aurora employees (including student employees), unless deemed a confidential resource by law, have an ethical obligation to promptly report any incidents they are aware of concerning civil right violations. Reports should be made within 24 hours, unless there is reasonable justification for a delay. Employees unsure of the scope of this requirement may direct their questions to the Title IX/EO Coordinator, Cindy Hesse. Failure to report will be considered a violation of BP 3-70, Colorado Community College System Code of Ethics, and may result in discipline, up to and including termination. All other individuals affiliated with CCCS are strongly encouraged to report civil rights violations.

Federal & State Reporting Resources

Students have the right to make inquiries and/or file a complaint with:

Office for Civil Rights (OCR) U.S. Department of Education

Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building
1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310
Denver, CO 80204-3582
Telephone: (303) 844-5695
Facsimile: (303) 844-4303
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.ed.gov/ocr

In addition to OCT, employees have the right to make inquiries and/or file a complaint with:

Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA)

Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD)
1560 Broadway Suite 825
Denver, CO 80202
Telephone: (303) 894-2997
Facsimile: (303) 894-7570
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dora/civil-rights

United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

950 17th Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80203
Telephone: (800) 669-4000
Facsimile: (303) 866-1085
Web: https://www.eeoc.gov/field-office/denver/location

Rights of the Parties

• To be treated equitably and with respect by CCCS employees
• To take advantage of Supportive Measures and other resources, such as counseling, psychological services, and health services
• To experience a safe living, educational, and work environment.
• To have an advisor of their choice present at any meeting
• To have access to a Title IX/EO Coordinator, investigator(s), hearing officers/decision-maker(s) for Title IX cases, and/or other individuals assisting with the resolution process who do not have a conflict of interest or bias for or against either party
• To receive amnesty for minor student misconduct (such as alcohol or drug violations) that is ancillary to the incident
• To be free from retaliation
• To be informed of the outcome/resolution of the complaint, and the sanctions and rationale for the outcome where permissible
• To have assistance in contacting law enforcement, if desired
• To request housing, employment, and/or educational modifications, as deemed appropriate and reasonable
• To request no further contact with the opposite party, as deemed appropriate, allowable, and reasonable
• A presumption that the Respondent is not responsible for the alleged conduct until a determination regarding responsibility has been made at the conclusion of the resolution process

Supportive Measures & Resources

“Supportive Measures” are non-disciplinary, non-punitive individualized services offered as appropriate, as reasonably available, and without fee or charge to the Complainant or the Respondent before or after the filing of a formal complaint or where no complaint has been filed. Such measures are designed to restore or preserve equal access to educational and employment programs and/or activities without unreasonably burdening the other party, including measures designed to protect the safety of all parties or the educational/employment environment or deter sexual harassment.

Supportive measures may include (but not limited to):

• Counseling
• Reporting to law enforcement
• Extensions of deadlines or other course-related adjustments
• Modifications of work or class schedules
• Campus escort services
• Mutual restrictions on contact between the parties
• Changes in work or housing locations
• Leaves of absence
• Increased security and monitoring of certain areas of the campus
• Other similar measures 

Aurora Police Department
15151 E Alameda Pkwy, Aurora CO 80012
303-627-3100
[email protected]

VAWA brochure.

For more information about supportive measures, contact the Title IX/EO Coordinator.

• Interim Actions

The Title IX/EO Coordinator, in consultation with appropriate administrative personnel, may implement interim actions, including supportive measures, intended to protect the safety and security of the campus community, address the effects of the reported behavior, and prevent further violations, while the complaint is under review or investigation.

These remedies may include, but are not limited to, placing an employee on administrative leave, interim actions outlined in the SP 4-30 Student Disciplinary Procedure, campus bans/emergency removals, referral to counseling and health services or to the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP), education to the community, altering housing situations, altering work arrangements, providing campus escorts, implementing contact limitations between the parties (e.g., no contact orders), offering adjustments to academic deadlines or course schedules, and/or suspending privileges such as attendance at College activities or participation in College-sponsored organizations. Any campus ban/emergency removal will be implemented only after a determination that the person poses an immediate threat to the physical health or safety of another.

In all cases in which an interim action is imposed, the individual will be given the opportunity to meet with the Title IX/EO Coordinator prior to such action being imposed, or as soon thereafter as reasonably possible, to show cause why the interim action should not be implemented. The Title IX/EO Coordinator shall have sole discretion to implement or stay an interim action, and to determine its conditions and duration. Violation of an interim action may be grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion, termination, a “Cease Communications” directive, or issuance of a “No Trespass” order, also known as a persona non grata.

Following the completion of the investigation or resolution process, interim actions may be continued or made permanent as deemed necessary.

• Confidential Resources
  • To discuss your options with a confidential resource, please contact the resource that best fits your need.
    • Students over 18 seeking support can complete a mental health counseling services referral or create an online therapy account with BetterMynd by following this link: https://app.bettermynd.com/register. If you have questions about creating a BetterMynd account or would like assistance in doing so, please contact [email protected] or 303-360-4771.
    
    
    • Staff and faculty may take advantage of Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP) benefits through https://cseap.colorado.gov/contact-us
    
    
    • 24/7 Support a Mental Health Crisis or are in need of referral services immediately, please call, text or chat 988.
    
    
    • 24/7 Support at 1-844-493-8255 or  Text “TALK” to 38255
      
• Medical Forensic Exams

If you are a survivor of a sexual assault, you may decide to request a medical forensic exam from a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) to preserve evidence that may be used for the purposes of legal action. While you do not need to decide immediately if you want to report to law enforcement or pursue legal action, the preservation of evidence is most effective when done immediately after an assault. It is ideal to obtain medical treatment as soon as possible before bathing, showering, douching, or changing clothes. There is no cost to the exam. You may go to the following emergency room providers to request a SANE exam

The Community College of Aurora has an agreement with the following providers for the exam:

UCHealth at Anschutz Medical Campus

12505 E. 16th Avenue, 2 1st floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-8451

Denver Health Medical Center

777 Bannock St
Denver, CO 80204
303-602-3007

If you do not have transportation to the facility, you may contact a friend or family member, or on our campuses, you may contact the Division of Student Success at [email protected] or Human Resources at [email protected] for support identifying additional resources.

• The Office of the Division of Student Success is located in Suite S101 in our Student Center building.
  • Human Resources is located in Suite A207 in our Administration building of the CentreTech campus, and can connect you with these services.

 Either office can also help you report the incident if you choose to do so. Medical Forensic Examinations do not obligate a survivor to at any time, participate with a law enforcement investigation or any criminal justice response.

Title IX Training

Title IX Training Materials for coordinators, investigators, decision makers, facilitation of informal resolutions, and live under SP 19-60a, Training and Compliance Requirements (Appendix B)

Clery Annual Security Report

Sexual Misconduct / Title IX – Definitions

View terms and definitions related to Title IX in Appendix A of the CCCS Procedure SP 19-60A.

­­For information regarding civil rights or grievance procedures, contact:

Title IX/ Equal Opportunity Coordinator

Erica Hines

Chief Human Resource & Personnel Success Officer

16000 E. CentreTech Parkway
Administration Building, Office A207
Aurora, Colorado 80011

303-340-7231
[email protected]

Deputy Coordinator: Students

Reyna M. Anaya, PhD (she, her, hers)

Senior Student Affairs Officer and Dean of Student Success

16000 E CentreTech Parkway
Student Centre, Suite S101
Aurora, Colorado 80011

303-360-4721
[email protected]

Deputy Coordinator: Employee

Angela Marquez, PhD (she, her, hers)

Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Chief of Staff

16000 E CentreTech Parkway
Administration Building, Suite A200
Aurora, Colorado 80011

303-360-4824
[email protected]