Highland Community College is committed to providing and maintaining a safe workplace and campus environment that is free from harassment. Harassment of any kind is not acceptable at Highland Community College. It is important that we all work together to maintain an environment free of sexual or other forms of harassment. Board policies may be found on the College’s G drive/General/Policy Manual.
Everyone is encouraged to review Highland’s Sexual Harassment Policy, 4.034, Discrimination-Related Harassment Policy, 4.035, and Sexual Harassment and Discrimination-Related Harassment Reporting Process Policy, 4.036 for a review of definitions and reporting procedures. Students receive information about our sexual and discrimination-related harassment policies during FYES and student worker orientation. They are told they may go to anyone they trust working on campus to help direct them to the right person to make a report.
Incidents can be reported in the following ways:
a. Leave a private voice message, send a private email, or visit the appropriate investigator (although it is best to make an appointment first to ensure availability) either the Title IX Coordinator, (815) 599-3531, liz.gerber@highland.edu, Marvin-Burt Liberal Arts Center room 101, EE/AA Officer, (815) 599-3402, karen.brown@highland.edu, Student/Conference Center room 232, or the HRIS Administrator/HR Generalist, (815) 599-3609, christie.lewis@highland.edu, Student/Conference Center room 243.
b. Mail a letter to the Title IX Coordinator’s office or the EE/AAO’s office at 2998 West Pearl City Road, Freeport, IL 61032;
c. Report to another trusted college official (e.g., faculty member, coach, advisor) who will then provide information as required under the Policy to the appropriate investigator.
d. File a report of harassment through the College’s online incident reporting system at https://publicdocs.maxient.com/incidentreport.php?HighlandCC. Reports marked “harassment” will be sent confidentially directly to the College’s Equal Employment/Affirmative Action Officer and copied to the Title IX Coordinator.
Annually, all employees must complete sexual harassment prevention training, per Illinois Public Act 101-0221. You will be seeing an email from “Highland Community College” <administrator+@safecolleges.com> on Monday, October 30 with information on how to access the Safe Colleges/Vector Solutions site to complete a sexual harassment prevention course as well as other required modules. All employees will be expected to complete the training modules by
December 31, 2023.