Scope of Policy

This policy applies to all Sarah Lawrence students, employees, and other individuals who engage with the College’s education program and activity. It prohibits gender-based misconduct that occurs within the College’s education program or activity, including conduct that occurs on campus and conduct that occurs off campus but has a reasonable connection to the College, including, but not limited to, conduct occurring online, in College-operated study abroad programs or by Sarah Lawrence students studying abroad through other programs, and that is otherwise subject to the College’s disciplinary authority. Alleged misconduct subject to this policy (“prohibited conduct”) includes both Title IX sexual harassment (which is defined by law and referred to as “Title IX Misconduct”) and SLC defined gender-based misconduct (which includes allegations that do not meet the definitions under Title IX, but nonetheless violate Sarah Lawrence College’s community standards, and is referred to as “SLC Gender-Based Misconduct”), as discussed further in this policy.

The Title IX Coordinator will evaluate all reports and complaints to assess whether they must be addressed under this policy. The Title IX Coordinator may also determine, in consultation with other College officials, that other alleged misconduct occurring alongside alleged gender-based misconduct may be investigated and adjudicated under this policy. The College always maintains the discretion to determine which policy or process should be applied.

The policies of the College are written and interpreted broadly to include conduct that takes place online. Although the College may not control websites, social media, and other venues in which harassing conduct occurs, the College will reasonably engage in a variety of means to address and mitigate the effects when such conduct is reported.

If the respondent is unknown or not a member of the College community, the Title IX Coordinator will still assist the complainant in identifying appropriate campus and local resources, supportive measures, remedies, and/or, when criminal conduct is alleged, in contacting local law enforcement if the individual would like to make a police report.

This policy sets forth behavioral expectations for everyone in the College community. However, the applicable formal disciplinary procedure that will be applied in a particular case depends on whether the accused is a student, employee, or a non-community member (e.g., family or friends of students, vendors, visiting athletes, etc.). Action taken and support provided regarding incidents of misconduct involving contract employees, visitors, and guests may be limited; however, the College will work to respond, sanction, and/or remedy to the extent possible, practical, and reasonable. The College may opt to ban a non-community member from College property or take other appropriate responsive measures.

Non-community members visiting campus, participating in a Sarah Lawrence College program or activity, or interacting with Sarah Lawrence College community members are expected to abide by the behavioral expectations in this policy. All vendors serving the College through third-party contracts are subject to the policies and procedures of their employers (or to the policies and procedures which their employer has agreed to be bound by their contracts).

When the respondent is enrolled in or employed by another institution, the Title IX Coordinator can assist the complainant in communicating with the appropriate employee at that institution. Similarly, the Title IX Coordinator may be able to assist and support a student or employee complainant who experiences gender-based misconduct in a location outside of the College where sexual harassment or nondiscrimination policies and procedures of the facilitating or host organization may also give recourse to the complainant.

This policy protects employees, interns (whether paid or unpaid), and non-employees (including independent contractors) who are (or who are employed by) contractors, companies, or organizations contracting to provide services to the College. Employees of the College are required to cooperate with and participate in the College investigation and resolution processes set forth in this policy.

The process outlined in this policy will apply to all cases whether new or currently active. The definitions of prohibited conduct will be considered on a case-by-case basis to the extent they might be different now than at the time of the incident.