Title IX

Triton College is committed to creating and maintaining a positive learning environment for our community; students, faculty, staff and visitors to our campus.

In support of this goal, we are committed to sustaining a learning environment that is free from dating violence, domestic violence, harassment, threats, bullying on the basis of sex, retaliation, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, and stalking. Triton College does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the educational programs and activities it operates. Triton College strongly encourages individuals to report these acts in efforts to maintain a safe and productive environment for all members of our community.


Title IX

Title IX is a civil rights law passed in 1972, which prohibits gender discrimination in educational settings that receive federal funding. Sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual misconduct and other gender-based conduct violations are all considered discrimination, regardless of the gender and sexual orientation of the reporting party and the accused.  Issues may relate to, but are not limited to:

  • Sex or Gender-based Discrimination
  • Students experiencing discrimination
  • Discrimination in Athletics
  • Discrimination due to Pregnancy and Parenting
  • Discrimination against students identifying as transgender or gender-nonconforming

Triton College and Title IX

In accordance with Title IX of the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Amendment of 1972, Triton College reaffirms its commitment to affirmative action and offers equal employment and educational opportunities, including career and technical education opportunities, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, or any other basis which is protected by law except where such characteristics are bonafide occupational requirements.

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Violence Prevention Project

Triton College was awarded a grant in 2017 by the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus. The Office on Violence Against Women Campus Program aims to strengthen the response of higher education institutions to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campuses and enhance the collaboration among campuses, local law enforcement and campus security authorities, and victim advocacy organizations. With the assistance of this grant, Triton College has been able to create the Triton College Violence Prevention Project. The Violence Prevention Project is a comprehensive, collaborative, and survivor-centered program that: provides education and prevention of and response to gender-based violence at Triton College in order to foster a safer community; creates awareness of and addresses issues that impact students due to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and encourages a comprehensive, coordinated community approach that provides services for survivors and enhances survivor safety.

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Title IX and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR)

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a “Dear Colleague Letter (DCL)” on April 4, 2011 to all educational institutions receiving federal aid. It outlines institutions’ responsibilities when becoming aware of sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, dating violence, and stalking. The letter states, “If a school knows or reasonably should know about student on student harassment that creates a hostile environment, Title IX requires the school to take immediate action to eliminate the harassment, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects.”

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Responsibilities and Rights

Responsibilities of the Parties and Witnesses

Rights of the Parties and Witnesses

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Title IX Coordinators

When the respondent is an employee, report to:
Joe Klinger
AVP, Human Resources
Title IX Coordinator
Triton College, Room P-105
(708) 456-0300, Ext. 3743
joeklinger@triton.edu

When the respondent is a student, report to:
Dean of Students (vacant)
Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Triton College, Room B-240A

Section 504 (of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973) prohibits discrimination based on a disability:
Deborah Kaczmarek
Director, Center for Access and Accommodative Services
Triton College, Room A-137
(708) 456-0300, Ext. 3854
deborahkaczmarek@triton.edu

Role of Title IX Coordinator
The Title IX Coordinator is the individual who has been designated by the College to oversee compliance with federal requirements under Title IX. This includes all duties associated with effectively responding to allegations of sexual violence, ensuring annual training campus-wide, and the provision of educational opportunities and prevention efforts for the campus community. The Title IX Coordinator has no "side" during the investigation and serves as a resource for both the complainant and the respondent.

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Confidential Reporting

If a complainant does not wish for their name to be shared, does not wish for an investigation to take place, or does not want any form of resolution to be pursued, they may make such a request to a Title IX Coordinator who will evaluate that request in light of the duty to ensure the safety of the campus and comply with federal law.

Information reported and compiled in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act lists only the date of the incident, time of the incident, location where the incident occurred, a brief and vague description of the type of incident, and a disposition of the actions taken by Triton College Police Department.

Personally identifiable information may reside in the reports made by Triton College’s Police Department or in reports made to the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinator and are not for public view. In cases indicating a pattern, predation, threat, weapons, and/or violence, Triton College is not likely able to honor a request for confidentiality. In other cases, where circumstances allow the College to honor a request for confidentiality, the College will offer resources and supportive measures to the complainant but will not otherwise pursue formal action. A complainant has the right to have and can expect Triton College to take formal reports seriously and to have those incidents investigated and properly resolved through these procedures.

Formal reporting still affords some level of privacy to the Reporting Party; therefore, only a small group of officials who need to know will be informed, including Human Resources for employees and Student Affairs for students. The circle of people with this knowledge will be kept as narrow as possible to preserve both parties' rights and privacy but may include, as necessary, investigators, witnesses, and the respondent.

Limitations of Confidentiality

Triton College will make every reasonable effort to preserve an individual's privacy and protect the privacy of information when requested. Reports will be treated confidentially to the extent permitted by the College's Title IX reporting requirements and need to investigate and resolve the reported problem. Whenever possible, the complainant's identity will be limited in disclosure and without consent to disclose the complainant’s identity, the College may be limited in pursuing disciplinary action.

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Confidential Advisor

A Confidential Advisor is a designated Triton College employee trained to provide ongoing support to student survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking. Confidential Advisors will maintain confidentiality except in extreme cases of immediate threat or danger to self or others or suspected abuse of a minor. Confidential reporters will submit timely, anonymous, aggregate statistical information for Clery purposes unless they believe it would be harmful to a specific employee or student.

Designated Confidential Advisors

Sandra Berryhill, MS
(708) 456-0300 ext. 3752
sandraberryhill@triton.edu

Leslie Wester, MA, LCPC
(708) 456-0300 ext. 3257
lesliewester@triton.edu

Tracy Wright, MA, LCPC
(708) 456-0300, ext. 3807
tracywright@triton.edu

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Duty to Report

All College employees have a duty to report all acts of dating violence, domestic violence, harassment, threats, and bullying on the basis of sex, retaliation, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, and stalking, unless they fall under the "Confidential Reporting" section above.

Because employees are required reporters, complainants may want to consider whether they share personally identifiable details with College employees, as those details must be shared with the Title IX or Deputy Title IX Coordinators. Employees must share all details of the reports, including the name of the complainant and respondent, if known.

Failure of a required reporter, as described in this section, to report an incident or incidents of dating violence, domestic violence, harassment, threats, and bullying on the basis of sex, retaliation, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, gender identity, sexual orientation, or stalking is a violation of College policy and subject to disciplinary action.

As soon as a required reporter has been notified of an incident, they should provide a report to the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinator to ensure supportive measures and academic accommodations can be provided as quickly as possible. Supervisors of required reporters shall not create additional processes within a department nor investigate a complaint before reporting to the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinator.

Required reporters can access and submit their Incident Reporting Form at Title IX Report.

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Filing a Report

Any Triton College community member, parent or family member, or legitimate user of Triton College facilities or programs may initiate a Title IX report. The form may be completed through an online form or by contacting the respective Title IX Coordinator.

Click here to view the Title IX Reporting Structure outline.

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Supportive Measures

Individualized services reasonably available that are non-punitive, non-disciplinary, and not unreasonably burdensome to the other party while designed to ensure equal educational access, protect safety, or deter sexual harassment. Supportive measures must be offered with or without a formal complaint. Supportive measures may be requested verbally or in writing by the complainant or the respondent, or the College can initiate the supportive measures in the absence of a request at any time during the process.

Supportive measures may include and if reasonably available:

Supportive Measures

*For assistance in filing an Order of Protection, click on Counseling and Support Services / Resources on the side bar and contact one of the listed agencies.

If requested by the complainant or respondent, and if reasonably available, the College may assist the complainant and respondent in:

Additional Supportive Assistance

Supportive measures may be implemented at any time, even if originally declined.

Supportive Measures in the Event of No Investigation:
Even if the College decides not to confront the respondent because of the complainant’s request for confidentiality, the Title IX Coordinator will still offer supportive measures to limit the effects of the alleged harassment.

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Assessment of a Complaint
Upon notice of a complaint regarding Prohibited Conduct, the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinator will assess whether a formal Title IX Investigation will be conducted under this policy- that is, whether the complaint(s), if true, rise to the level of Prohibited Conduct and, if so, whether a formal investigation is appropriate under the circumstances. When the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinator determines that there is no ongoing risk of harm to the community and that supportive measures, such as a No Contact Directive, have remedied the complaint, the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinator may forego a formal investigation. Remedies must be designed to maintain the complainant’s equal access to education and may include the same individualized services as supportive measures.

If no further action is necessary or if the supportive measures will remain in place as ongoing accommodations, the complainant will be provided a General Outcome Letter, which will include the reasons for the dismissal.

If the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinator determines there is no further action, then the decision is non-appealable at Triton Community College. This process may be coordinated with the Triton College Police Department, but is separate from any criminal investigation if applicable.

The level of control the college has over the respondent will determine if an investigation is possible. If Triton College cannot take direct action against an individual, the college would not be able to investigate but would provide resources and supportive measures.

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Investigation

For every report of an alleged violation of the Harassment, Discrimination, and Sexual Misconduct Policy that will be considered for investigation, the Title IX or Deputy Title IX Coordinator will make an initial review. The initial review will consider the nature of the report and the safety of all parties and of the campus community.

A decision will be made about appropriate next steps with the assistance of the investigator(s) and decision-maker(s). Each resolution process will provide a prompt, fair, and impartial investigation and resolution, organized through the respective Title IX Coordinator.

Investigation Process

1. Assigning an Investigator

2. Notice of Investigation

3. Opportunity to Participate

4. Evidentiary Determination

5. Investigator Review

6. Resolution Process

7. Investigation Outcome

8. Outcome Appeal

Both parties may have an advisor of choice (i.e. friend, family member, attorney, advocate) accompany them through the investigative and resolution process. An advisor of choice may not speak for the student or employee, unless providing cross-examination during a live hearing.

The College strives to avoid any conflict of interest or bias on the part of any individual responsible for investigating and/or resolving alleged misconduct. Any party who wishes to express concerns about a conflict of interest or bias should notify the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinator in writing. In instances where a conflict of interest or perceived bias on the part of the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinator occurs, the notification should be made in writing to the Vice President of Business Services or Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs.

Time frame of a Title IX Investigation
Triton College will respond to reports of sexual misconduct allegations within twenty-four (24) hours of initial report filed. Requests for a review of a Title IX complaint that occurred more than 180 calendar days must submit a request to the Title IX Coordinator in writing at joeklinger@triton.edu.

Students have the right to engage in a Hearing Resolution process that is prompt and equitable. A Title IX Investigation should normally be completed within sixty (60) business days after the College has notice of an allegation of Prohibited Conduct. The Title IX Coordinator may extend this time frame for good cause, including College breaks. After the investigation is complete, the Resolution Process should normally be completed within 30 business days.

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Prohibited Conduct

Dating Violence

Domestic Violence

Sexual Assault

Sexual Misconduct

Sexual Exploitation

Sexual Harassment

Harassment, Threats, and Bullying on the basis of sex

Stalking

Retaliation

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Counseling and Support Services/Resources

Triton College Counseling Department:
(708) 456-0300, ext. 3588
Triton College Counseling Department

Student/Employee Assistance Program:
Perspectives, (866) 866-7556
www.perspectivesltd.com
Username: TRI501
Password: perspectives

Nearest Medical Facility:
Gottlieb Memorial Hospital
701 W. North Avenue
Melrose Park, IL 60160
(708) 681-3200

Click here to view the Sexual Misconduct Reporting and  Resource Guide.

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Domestic and Sexual Violence Resources

Sarah’s Inn Domestic Violence Agency (English/Spanish)
24-hour domestic violence hotline, individual and group counseling, legal advocacy, and Partner Abuse Intervention Program (PAIP)
24-hour crisis line: (708) 386-4225
Text line: (708) 792-3120
www.sarahsinn.org

Pillars Community Health (English/Spanish/Arabic)
Domestic and Sexual Violence Survivor Services / Constance Morris House Emergency Shelter
24-hour domestic violence and sexual violence hotlines, domestic violence emergency shelter, case management, legal advocacy, medical advocacy, and individual, family, and group therapy
24-hour crisis line: (708) 485-5254
www.pillarscommunity.org

Mujeres Latinas En Accion (English/Spanish/Portuguese)
Empowering Latinas through Service and Advocacy Domestic and Sexual Violence Survivor Service
24-hour domestic violence hotline, legal advocacy, individual and group counseling for children and adults, and medical advocacy
24-hour crisis line: (312) 738-5358
www.mujereslatinasenaccion.org

Arab American Family Services (English/Spanish/Arabic)
Domestic Violence Survivor Services
24-hour domestic violence hotline, case management, individual counseling for children and adults, and legal advocacy
24-hour crisis line: (708) 945-7600
aafsil.org

Triton College Police Department
Building N, Room 206
24-hours/day, 7-days/week
708-456-6911 (dial 11 from any Triton extension)
TDD: (708) 452-8115
Non-emergency: tcpd@triton.edu

Free Legal Assistance Related to Domestic Violence
IL Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights: https://www.icirr.org/ – ICIRR (312) 332-7360
Greater Chicago Legal Clinic: https://www.gclclaw.org/
Legal Aid Chicago: https://www.legalaidchicago.org/
Documentation of legal right to be in the country is not required for victims to obtain an Order of Protection or to request criminal charges against an abuser.

Illinois Compensation Programs
The Illinois Crime Victim Compensation Program provides direct financial assistance to innocent victims of violent crime to reimburse out-of-pocket expenses related to the crime.
http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/victims/cvc.html

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Pregnant and Parenting Student Rights: Title IX

Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex — including pregnancy, parenting, and all related conditions in education and in programs and activities that receive federal funding. If you are a pregnant or parenting student, you have the right to stay in school so you can meet your education and career goals. 

Title IX - Pregnancy FAQs

How can I use Title IX to ensure that my pregnancy or family responsibilities do not interfere with my education?

Do my professors have to excuse my absences due to pregnancy, childbirth or abortion?

What if my professors says their absence/makeup policy applies regardless of any medical condition?

Does Triton College need to provide me with special academic/support services, like tutoring?

If my program requires internships, career rotations or other off-campus elements, can I be excluded from participation?

What if classmates or professors have made offensive comments to me about my pregnancy?

I would like to take a semester off. Can I keep my student status, scholarships, etc.?

Does Title IX permit excused absences for child care?

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Applicable Policies

Related to Students
Affirmative Action
Student Code of Conduct/Triton Trust
Harassment, Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct Policy*

Related to Faculty and Staff
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
Harassment, Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct Policy*

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Education and Training
The Title IX Coordinator, College Police, Mandatory Reporters, Confidential Advisors, Decision-Maker(s), Investigator(s), and anyone else involved in responding to, investigating or adjudicating sexual discrimination, harassment and misconduct incidents must receive 8-10 hours of annual education and training on issues of relevance, including primary prevention, bystander intervention, risk reduction, consent, reporting obligations, how to serve impartially including by avoiding prejudgment of the facts at issue, conflicts of interest and bias, investigation procedures, confidentiality requirements, relevant College policies and procedures, retaliation, the scope of the school’s education programs and activities, the impact of trauma, rape shield protections for complainants, relevant definitions, training on any technology to be used at live hearings, and other pertinent topics. The College will annually review its training offerings to identify ways in which to enhance its effectiveness. Triton College will post materials used to train Title IX personnel on its website.

Student Conduct Trainings:
The following trainings are used in Triton College's harassment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct grievance process. For more information, contact Joe Klinger, AVP, Human Resources/Title IX Coordinator, at (708) 456-0300 ext. 3743 or joeklinger@triton.edu.

Violence Prevention Project Trainings:
The College implements a comprehensive response to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. The comprehensive approach includes both prevention and intervention and involves a multi-faceted coordinated effort that engages key stakeholders from the community such as students, staff, administrators, and faculty. The following trainings are used in the prevention and education of and response to gender-based violence at Triton College. For more information, contact Joe Klinger, AVP, Human Resources/Title IX Coordinator, at (708) 456-0300 ext. 3743 or joeklinger@triton.edu.

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Related Government Departments

U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202
(800) 872-5327

U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
Chicago Office – 500 W Madison, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661
(800) 421-3481
(312) 730-1560

U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20210
(866) 487-2365

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Chicago Office – JCK Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60604
(800) 669-4000
(312) 872-9744

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