Campus Safety & Clery Act
Guilford Technical Community College is concerned about the safety, welfare, and protection of all students, faculty, staff, visitors, and college property. The college is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for everyone. A college community, like any other community, experiences accidents, crimes, and injuries. No wall exists to protect the college from dangers that exist in the surrounding community. Unfortunately, absolute safety cannot be guaranteed to anyone. Therefore, students, staff, and visitors are also responsible for taking measures to protect themselves and their possessions.
The GTCC Police Department offers crime prevention and other educational programs to help deter crime and raise safety awareness within the college community. For more information about these programs, contact GTCC Police at (336) 334-4822 ext. 52529.
In November 1990, the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act (Title II, Public Law 101-542) was signed into law. This law requires colleges and universities to produce and make available certain policy statements and statistics about campus crime. In November 1999, this Act was renamed The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Crime Statistics Act, more commonly known as The Clery Act.
By October 1 of each academic year GTCC publishes an annual security report that informs current students and employees of:
- Safety and security policies, procedures, and practices
- Reported crime statistics from previous three years
Members of the GTCC community are encouraged to use this report as a guide for safe practices on and off campus. It is available on the web at: https://www.gtcc.edu/_files/campus%20police/ASR-Final.pdf
Emergencies
Immediately report any threat to the health, safety or well-being of a student, employee or visitor on any GTCC campus to the GTCC Police Department by calling (336) 334-4822 ext. 52529 or 9-1-1 or by activating a campus emergency call box. When deemed safe to do so, College employees may ask students to cease any unlawful or dangerous behavior. Such behavior should also be reported to the Community Standards Director and, if taking place at one of our community campuses, to the Dean of that campus.
Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) are two federal laws that are focused on providing safe, inclusive, and welcoming learning and work environments on campus. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. It states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
Under VAWA, Section 304 of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021, colleges and universities are required to:
- Implement policies and procedures to address sexual violence, domestic violence, interpersonal violence, and stalking.
- Provide education programs, prevention programs, and awareness campaigns on sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
- Provide information about available resources, law enforcement options, and protective measures such as changes to class schedules.
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Violence and Anti-Harassment
It is the policy of GTCC that all students and employees shall have the right to work or learn in an environment free from sexual harassment. No employee, student, or visitor to the campus may engage in conduct that falls under the definition of sexual harassment. Students engaging in violence or harassment are in violation of the college’s Sexual Harassment, Sexual Violence, and Anti-Harassment policy. If investigated and found responsible for a violation under this policy students may face sanctions ranging from interim suspension to expulsion. Disciplinary action by the college does not preclude the possibility of criminal charges.
Under Title IX, Sexual harassment means conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following:
- An employee conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct;
- Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to an education program or activity; or
- “Sexual assault” as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(v), “dating violence” as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(10), “domestic violence” as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(8), or “stalking” as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(30).
Retaliation against anyone who brings forward a complaint or report in good faith pursuant to GTCC’s Title IX policy is strictly prohibited. Anyone responsible for retaliation, or threats of retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action by GTCC, up to and including removal or termination from the college.
Reports of sexual discrimination or harassment, or of retaliation as described herein, should be brought to the attention of the Title IX Coordinator.
The college recognizes that not all behavior reported as sexual harassment under Title IX will meet the definitions outlined in GTCC’s Title IX policy. The college’s Title IX Coordinator will ensure that an initial review of a reported incident of discrimination or harassment is conducted within five (5) instructional weekdays of receiving a Title IX complaint to determine which of the college’s policies apply. Non-Title IX administrators such as Student Conduct and Community Standards employees will likewise evaluate complaints submitted to them to determine if they contain sex-based concerns that may fall under title IX authority prior to opening a general conduct case. If so, the Title IX Coordinator will be alerted. Matters not meeting the definitions of sex discrimination or harassment are not within the scope of Title IX jurisdiction may be covered by the IV-3.1.1 Student Code of Conduct policy.
How to Report or Request More Information
In order for the College to receive actual notice of a Title IX concern, it must be reported to an administrator with the power to take appropriate action in response. The college has designated two specialized Title IX Coordinators and other mandatory reporters for this purpose.
The Title IX Coordinator for Students is:
Mr. Kirby Moore, Associate Vice President for Student Services
khmoore1@gtcc.edu
(336) 334-4822 Ext. 50565
Medlin Campus Center 4605
Please direct any questions, concerns, or reports about student misconduct to him.
The Title IX Coordinator for Employees is:
Ms. Cheryl Bryant-Shanks, Associate Vice President for Human Resources
cmbryantshanks@gtcc.edu
(336) 334-4822 Ext. 50279
Medlin Campus Center 4301
Please direct any questions, concerns, or reports about employee misconduct to her.
Online Reporting Forms:
Report a Title IX Situation
Title IX Formal Complaint Form for Students
Mandatory Reporter:
An employee of the College who is required to share knowledge or reports of harassment and discrimination with the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinators. Reporters must include in their report all known information (i.e. name, date, time and location of incident). The following individuals are the College’s Mandatory Reporters:
a. All Vice Presidents, Associate Vice Presidents, Deans, Department Chairs, Directors, Coordinators, and supervisors, including work-study supervisors;
b. All Human Resources staff;
c. Head Athletic coaches;
d. All Campus Police officers.
e. All other employees of the College who are not confidential employees are encouraged to promptly report any incident of sexual harassment to the Title IX Coordinator and provide all known information. Any employee with questions about their reporting obligations should contact the Title IX Coordinator.
Support Resources
The trained college professionals designated below can provide counseling, information, and support in a confidential setting. These confidential resources (as defined in the Definitions section of this policy) will not share information about an individual (including whether that individual has received services) without the individual’s express permission, unless there is a legal obligation to reveal such information (e.g., suspected abuse or neglect of a minor). These professionals are also available to help an individual make a report to the college or Campus Police:
Counseling and Disability Access Services
601 N. Main Street
Jamestown, NC 27282
Medlin Campus Center, Room 3800
(336) 334-4822 Ext. 50038
Ernest Lawson, Director, Counseling & Disability Access Services
Medlin Campus Center, 3800
(336) 334-4822 ext. 50323
La Queta Bartley, Counselor/Disability Access Services Advisor
Greensboro Campus - Continuing Education Center, Room 128
(336)334-4822 ext. 53021
Aletta Smith, Student Support Services
High Point Campus - H1, Room 133-D
(336)334-4822 ext. 50536
Non-campus resources are also available to support students who have become involved with Title IX behaviors. Live links to these resources are available through the college’s Title IX webpage.
In compliance with Title IX regulations, the college has:
a. Disseminated this and other notices of nondiscrimination indicating that the college does not discriminate on the basis of sex.
b. Designated at least one employee to coordinate its efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX.
c. Adopted and published grievance procedures providing for prompt and equitable resolution of student and employee complaints of sexual discrimination including sexual violence or harassment.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights oversees Title IX efforts at colleges and universities. Individuals may also contact the Office of Civil Rights, 400 Maryland Avenue SW; Washington, DC 20202-1475; 202-453-6020 or OCR.DC@ed.gov.
Best Practices for Victims
Victims of a sexual assault should take the following steps:
1. Go to a safe place as soon as possible.
2. On any GTCC Campus call 336-819-2046 (or extension 50911 from a campus phone) for police assistance. If you are off campus, call 9-1-1 for police assistance.
3. Stay on the phone with the dispatcher as long as you are needed.
4. The preservation of physical evidence may be critical for successful prosecution of the offender.
a. Do not change your clothes. If you do, put the clothing you were wearing in separate paper bags (not plastic) and take them to the hospital. This clothing may be used as evidence for prosecution. If you wear the clothes to the hospital, bring a change of clothes with you.
b. Do not clean your body or your clothes. Preserve all physical evidence. Do not wash, bathe, douche, comb your hair, or use the toilet if you can help it. Washing might be the first thing you want to do, but don’t. You literally might be washing away valuable evidence. Wait until after you have a medical examination.
c. Do not alter or disturb the place where the assault occurred.
5. You may ask for a victim advocate to be present during the report taking. GTCC has a trained group of staff members who will support you and can assist you in accessing medical and counseling services, and reporting the incident to the appropriate local law enforcement authorities. Contact the Title IX Coordinator for additional information.
6. You have the right to file a Title IX complaint with the college’s Title IX Coordinator in addition to filing a criminal complaint.
Securing an Advisor
Parties may choose their own Advisors. The College does not endorse any attorney or legal team.
If a student does not secure an advisor, the college will appoint one.
Respondents may wish to contact organizations such as:
- Legal Aid of North Carolina (https://www.legalaidnc.org)
- FACE (http://www.facecampusequality.org)
- SAVE (http://www.saveservices.org)
Complainants may wish to contact organizations such as:
- Legal Aid of North Carolina (https://www.legalaidnc.org)
- The Victim Rights Law Center (http://www.victimrights.org)
- The National Center for Victims of Crime (http://www.victimsofcrime.org)
- The Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund (https://nwlc.org/times-up-legal-defense-fund)
For access to the complete Title IX policy: Title IX (gtcc.edu)
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