Title IX
Mid-Plains Community College is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment, as well as other benefits, programs, and activities, that are free from discrimination and harassment based on a protected category, and retaliation for engaging in a protected activity.
To ensure compliance with federal, state, and local civil rights laws and regulations,
and to affirm its commitment to promoting the goals of fairness and equity in all
aspects of the educational program or activity, MPCC has developed internal policies
and procedures that provide a prompt, fair, and impartial process for those involved
in an allegation of discrimination or harassment on the basis of
protected class status, and for allegations of retaliation.
MPCC values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of its community and strives
to balance
the rights of the parties in the grievance process during what is often a difficult
time for all those
involved.
Employee and Student Sexual Harassment Policies and Procedures
To ensure compliance with federal, state, and local civil rights laws and regulations, and to affirm its commitment to promoting the goals of fairness and equity in all aspects of the educational program or activity, MPCC has developed internal policies and procedures that provide a prompt, fair, and impartial process for those involved in an allegation of discrimination or harassment on the basis of protected class status, and for allegations of retaliation.
Every effort is made by MPCC to preserve the confidentiality of reports. MPCC will not share the identity of any individual who has made a report or complaint of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation; any complainant; any individual who has been reported to be the perpetrator of sex discrimination; any respondent, or any witness, except as permitted by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), or as required by law; or to carry out the purposes of 34 CFR Part 106, including the conducting of any investigation, hearing, or grievance proceeding arising under these policies and procedures.
MPCC reserves the right to determine which MPCC officials have a legitimate educational interest in being informed about incidents that fall within this policy, pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
The Title IX Coordinator or Deans of Student Life promptly makes supportive measures available to the parties upon receiving notice or a complaint. At the time that supportive measures are offered, the MPCC will inform the complainant, in writing, that they may file a formal complaint with MPCC either at that time or in the future, if they have not done so already. The Title IX Coordinator or Deans of Student Life works with the complainant to ensure that their wishes are taken into account with respect to the supportive measures that are planned and implemented.
The MPCC will maintain the confidentiality of the supportive measures, provided that
confidentiality does not impair the MPCC’s ability to provide those supportive measures.
MPCC will act to ensure as minimal an academic/occupational impact on the parties
as possible. MPCC will implement measures in a way that does not unreasonably burden
the other party.
The insitution may take whatever steps are deemed necessary to appropriately respond to allegations of sexual misconduct, protect students’ rights and keep members of the campus community safe from further harm. Measures include, but are not limited to:
- Referral to counseling, medical, and/or other healthcare services.
- Referral to the Employee Assistance Program.
- Referral to community-based service providers.
- Student financial aid counseling.
- Education to the institutional community or community subgroup(s).
- Altering campus housing assignment(s).
- Altering work arrangements for employees or student-employees.
- Safety planning.
- Providing campus safety escorts.
- Providing transportation accommodations.
- Implementing contact limitations (no contact orders) between the parties.
- Academic support, extensions of deadlines, or other course/program-related adjustments.
- Trespass, Persona Non Grata (PNG), or Be-On-the-Lookout (BOLO) orders.
- Timely warnings.
- Class schedule modifications, withdrawals, or leaves of absence.
- Increased security and monitoring of certain areas of the campus.
- Any other actions deemed appropriate by the Title IX Coordinator.
Violations of no contact orders or other restrictions will be referred to appropriate student or employee conduct processes for enforcement.
Title IX Poster | Options for Victims of Discrimination, Harassmeent & Sexual Assult brochure |
All allegations are acted upon promptly by MPCC once it has received notice or a formal
complaint. Complaints can take 60-90 business days to resolve, typically. There are
always exceptions and extenuating circumstances that can cause a resolution to take
longer, but MPCC will avoid all undue delays within its control.
Any time the general timeframes for resolution outlined in MPCC procedures will be delayed, MPCC will provide written notice to the parties of the delay, the cause of the delay, and an estimate of the anticipated additional time that will be needed as a result of the delay.
Administrative Contact Information
Rebecca Wrage 308-535-3679 wrager@mpcc.edu |
Kelly Rippen 308-345-8107 rippenk@mpcc.edu |
Dr. Brian Obert 308-345-8109 obertb@mpcc.edu |
Jason Osmotherly 308-535-3635 osmotherlyj@mpcc.edu |
Mid-Plains Community College is committed to providing the Title IX team with annual training in the field of Title IX to ensure compliance with Title IX regulations as well as to stay up to date on best practices used in the field. MPCC maintains an annual membership with ATIXA and utilizes ATIXA trainings for all team members.
Training Materials:
If you have any questions or concerns or would like to review the materials in hard copy, please contact Rebecca Wrage, Title IX Coordinator, at wrager@mpcc.edu or 308-535-3679.