Title IX

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Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any educational program or activity. Odessa College does not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on, or related to:
  • Sex
  • Gender Identity
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Race
  • Ethnicity
  • Religion
  • Spirituality
  • Ability Status
  • Protected Veteran Status
  • Any other part of your identity 
Sex-Based Discrimination Includes:
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Sexual Assault
  • Sexual Misconduct
  • Interpersonal/Dating Violence
  • Stalking
  • Pregnancy, Nursing, and Parenting Discrimination 

Protection for Pregnant, Nursing, and Parenting Status:

Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including on the basis of pregnancy and parenting status. The college is required to provide reasonable accommodations due to pregnancy and parenting needs, including excused absences, changes in the work environment, or alternative participation options.  If you feel that reasonable accommodations are not being provided, please contact OC Cares at:

cares@odessa.edu | 432-335-6865 | 140 in the Spur Building


  • “Title IX and Sex Discrimination.” US Department of Education (ED).  www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/tix_dis.html.
  • “Sex-Based Harassment.” US Department of Education (ED). www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/frontpage/pro-students/issues/sex-issue01.html.
  • “What Is Sex-Based Harassment?” Sex Discrimination, US Department of Education (ED). www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/frontpage/faq/sex.html#sexhar1.
  • “Know Your Rights: Pregnant or Parenting? Title IX Protects You From Discrimination At School.” US Department of Education (ED). www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-know-rights-201306-title-ix.html.

Odessa College Title IX Policies

FFDA LOCAL – freedom from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation: sex and sexual violence (students)
FFDB LOCAL – freedom from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation: other protected characteristics (students)
DIAA LOCAL – freedom from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation: sex and sexual violence (employees)
DIAB LOCAL – freedom from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation: other protected characteristics (employees)
 

Odessa College Grievance and Complaint Policies

FLD LOCAL – student rights and responsibilities: student complaints
DGBA LOCAL – personnel-management relations: employee grievances
Unresolved Conflict/Complaint Form

TITLE IX | September 22, 2021 – Recent legislation, SB212, requires all employees (both faculty and staff) at a public or private post-secondary institution to promptly report any knowledge of any incidents of sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, or stalking "committed by or against a person who was a student enrolled at or an employee of the institution at the time of the incident." 

SB212 has strong criminal and administrative penalties for not complying with the law. Employees failing to report incidents of sexual assault can be charged with a Class B Misdemeanor and terminated. If the person intentionally tries to cover up the incident, they could also face a Class A misdemeanor charge. Furthermore, the college may also face a disciplinary action as a failure to comply with the bill’s requirements and could incur as much as a $2 million penalty. 

Employees who make a report, or assist in an investigation of a report, are protected under the legislation. The legislation has only two exceptions for requiring reports of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence or stalking:

  • if you are the victim of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence or stalking; or
  • if the disclosure is made at a public awareness event sponsored by the college or college-affiliated student organization. 

Please use the Sexual Misconduct link on the bottom of our home page to report all information concerning an incident. The reporter must provide all information that may be relevant to the investigation. It is not incumbent on the reporter to discern which category the incident may be classified.

Thank you in advance for your immediate support and cooperation. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact Kim McKay - kmckay@odessa.edu. We all have a responsibility to ensure that this campus and our extension centers are safe places to live, learn, work and play. 

Students and Employees are encouraged to report a Title IX violation using the college’s SEXUAL MISCONDUCT REPORT when:
  • An incident has negatively affected your academics, employment, or student involvement.
  • You have concerns about your safety or the safety of others.
  • You need assistance and support, but you do not want to disclose details or names.
  • You would like a No Contact Order to prohibit communication between you and another party.
  • You would like the college to take action and investigate the incident.  
The report may be completed anonymously; however, anonymous reports mitigate the college’s ability to support the victim/complainant while providing the following interim supportive measures:
  • Academic accommodations (revising schedule, transitioning to remote learning, rescheduling due dates for assignment or exam)
  • Access to medical and mental health services, including counseling
  • Change in campus housing and/or dining
  • A No Contact directive pending the outcome of an investigation (both parties have no verbal, electronic, written, or third party communication with one another)
  • Provide a campus escort to ensure that you can move safely between school programs and activities;
  • Assistance identifying an advocate to help secure addition resource or assistance including off-campus and community advocacy, support and services.
Receipt of the SEXUAL MISCONDUCT REPORT initiates communication from one of the college’s Title IX Coordinators:
 
Student Title IX Coordinator
Kim McKay | Vice President Student Services and Enrollment Management
kmckay@odessa.edu | 432-335-6683 | Administration Building Room 214
 
Employee Title IX Coordinator
Lindsey Bryant | Director of Human Resources
lbryant@odessa.edu | 432-335-6835 | Administration Building Room 104F
 
Student and Employees may file a written complaint directly with campus Title IX Coordinators.
Please be advised the Title IX investigation and adjudication process may include a live hearing. All parties involved, including witnesses, may be subject to cross-examination.

Odessa College Title IX Personnel Training
Odessa College Title IX personnel have completed specialized training in addition to the general Title IX training available to all faculty and staff. Completed trainings are listed below:
  • Title IX Revisions with Dr. Susan Strauss – Certified
  • Title IX “Final Rule” U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) New Mandates for Higher Education and K-12 – Dr. Susan Strauss
In order to be in compliance with Title IX Regulation 106.45(b)(10)(i)(d), the training materials used to train Odessa College's Title IX personnel can be viewed here. A Certificate of Completion of this training by an Odessa College staff member can be found here.
These materials are the exclusive property of Title IX Solutions, LLC. All rights reserved, ©2022. The publishing of these materials on this website is authorized by Title IX Solutions, LLC solely for use by this institution in compliance with Regulation 34 CFR §106.45(b)(10)(i)(D). No other use or dissemination by this institution or any third party is authorized without the prior written consent of Title IX Solutions, LLC.

The information and materials provided during this program were for educational purposes only and not intended to be legal advice. Attendees should seek independent legal advice concerning the issues presented.
Odessa College Employee Title IX Training Resources

Odessa College Employees can login to their custom Higher Ed Works online training account to access the following Title IX Trainings:

Title IX training resources for college personnel are available via STARLINK. Click Get Started and register as a First Time User to complete the Title IX training.

Senate Bill 212

STARLINK was established in 1989 with a Perkins State Leadership grant. Since its founding, STARLINK has been committed to empowering student success and providing exceptional professional development to higher education communities. Our online courses allow staff, faculty, adjuncts, and CEOs to take responsibility for their growth and development, giving them the ability to personalize their learning with on-demand courses. STARLINK provides courses that maintain academic rigor, technical knowledge and skill sets which drive positive growth. STARLINK offers members a personalized dashboard to track training and 24/7 access to over 200 hours of professional development training through its eLibrary. New courses, features, and webinars are released monthly.
 
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