Title IX

"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." —Title IX

MCLA does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any education program or activity that they operate, which extends to admission and employment at MCLA. MCLA is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”) to not discriminate in such a manner. Inquiries about the application of Title IX may be directed to each respective MCLA’s Title IX Coordinator, to the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, or both.

Sexual Harassment

MCLA prohibits conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following conditions:

An employee of the University conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the recipient on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct; or,
Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the recipient’s education program or activity.
Sexual Assault
Retaliation

For more information and definitions of these terms, please refer to the Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Affirmative Action Plan (EO Plan).

Title IX Coordinator

Patrick Connelly
Dean for Title IX, Equal Opportunity, and Student Wellness
Office Location: Amsler Campus Center - Room 105F
Phone: 413-662-5127
Email: patrick.connelly@mcla.edu
Mailing Address: 375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247

*This information is for incident reporting only. In the case of an emergency, please call 911.

MCLA’s Title IX Coordinator can assist you to understand your rights and reporting options. Any person may report sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, whether or not the person reporting is the person alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination or sexual harassment. Reports can be made in person, by mail, by telephone, or by email using the contact information listed for the Title IX Coordinator, or by any other means that result in the Title IX Coordinator receiving the person’s verbal or written report.

Reports may be made at any time (including during non-business hours) by using the telephone number or electronic mail address, or by mail to the office address, listed for the Title IX Coordinator. If you make a report during non-business hours, the Title IX Coordinator will follow up with you when the office reopens. If you would like to speak to the Title IX Coordinator in person, please call or email to schedule an appointment.

What Happens when a report is made?

When the Title IX Coordinator receives notice of an incident, they will contact the individuals involved to provide information about support resources, interim measures, and options for further action. The Title IX Coordinator can also help facilitate contact with law enforcement if the individual involved wishes to pursue a criminal complaint.

It is always the choice of the individual to come forward or to participate in an investigation. Anyone who has experienced safety concerns is encouraged to report their concerns to the Title IX Coordinator, Public Safety, and to participate in the College’s investigative process.

Who is a Complainant?

A complainant is any individual who is alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sexual harassment. At the time of the filing a formal complaint, a complainant must be participating in or attempting to participate in an education program or activity at MCLA.

Who is a respondent?

A respondent is an individual who has been reported to be the perpetrator of conduct that could constitute sexual harassment. A respondent is presumed not responsible for the alleged conduct until a determination regarding responsibility is made at the conclusion of the investigation and resolution process.