Galveston College

It is the policy of Galveston College to provide an educational, employment, and business environment free of discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, genetic information, or veteran status.. Regents, administrators, faculty, staff, and other agents of the College will not engage in conduct constituting unlawful harassment, discrimination, sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking.

Students who have just experienced an assault or other sexual violence should call 911 and locate to a safe place. The student should not change clothes. If the incident occurred on campus, the student should contact Campus Security at extension 361 (if you are on campus), or 409-944-1361 (from your cell phone). Campus security assistance is available 24 hours a day. Campus personnel may assist the victim in obtaining transportation to a hospital or clinic, crisis center, or other location. Prompt medical attention in a case of recent assault is necessary to document and treat any injuries, preserve evidence, and screen for certain medical conditions and diseases.

Students who have experienced sexual assault, sexual violence, stalking, domestic violence, or other crimes may seek advice, assistance, and resources from the Associate Vice President for Student Services or the College’s Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator’s duties include facilitating the complaint and investigation process. Individuals within these offices can assist the complainant with accessing medical or counseling services, advocacy services, social support services, legal services, and police services. Even in the absence of a formal complaint, the College may be able to provide assistance to the complainant with respect to his or her academic, living, transportation, or working situations. For example, a student might wish to explore changing a class or class time.

Safety on campus
Safety on campus is a joint responsibility of students, employees, and Security. Campus Security Officers are available to help students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, and their goal is to welcome all questions, suggestions, and reports of any activities that do not appear to be safe or conducive to a positive learning experience. If you ever feel uneasy about walking to your vehicle or to another building, perhaps because it’s late and you’re alone, don’t hesitate to call security. They will gladly escort you.

To report emergencies or to request an escort, dial extension 361 from any campus phone. From your cell phone, dial 409-944-1361

College Policies:

DIAA: Freedom from Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation: Sex and Sexual Violence

FFDA: Freedom from Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation: Sex and Sexual Violence

Jeanne Clery Act – Crime Statistics Reporting

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) is a federal mandate requiring all colleges and universities that participate in the federal student financial aid program to disclose information about crime on their campuses and in the surrounding communities. Clery Act training is available through Safe Colleges Training.

The Clery Act requires Galveston College and other institutions of higher education to do the following:

• Collect, classify and publish crime reports and statistics related to crime.
• Issue timely warnings and campus alerts for Clery-reportable crimes that represent an ongoing threat to the safety of students or employees, or emergency notifications upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees.
• Publish an annual security report containing safety and security-related policy statements and crime statistics and distribute it to all current students and employees.
• Submit crime statistics to the U.S. Department of Education each fall via a web-based data collection.
• Maintain a daily crime log of alleged criminal incidents that is open to public inspection.
• Disclose missing student notification procedures that pertain to students residing in on-campus student housing facilities.

Galveston College Security Department Campus Security and Fire Safety Report

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

In March 2013, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) was signed, which focuses on improving the criminal justice response to violence against women. This includes improved accountability for colleges to educate students and prevent gender-based violence. Additional rights were provided to campus victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Campus Save Act (Sexual Violence Elimination Act)

In 2013, the Campus SaVE Act was added to VAWA as an amendment, and it seeks to address the violence women face on campus. The act covers domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It requires incidents to be disclosed in the annual “Clery” campus crime statistic reports; clarifies minimum standards for institutional disciplinary procedures; instructs colleges and universities to provide programming for students and employees; and establishes collaboration between the U.S. Departments of Justice, Education, and Health and Human Services to collect and disseminate best practices for preventing and responding to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. More information on the Campus SaVE Act is available through Safe Colleges Training.

Title IX of Education Amendments of 1972

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination and sexual harassment by institutions of higher education that receive federal financial aid. (See 20 U.S.C. § 1681.) Each institution must maintain a grievance process that is prompt, equitable, and impartial. Title IX also requires each institution to appoint one or more “Title IX Coordinators” to coordinate compliance with the statute. Title IX is enforced by the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education. More information on Title IX is available through Safe Colleges Training

Galveston College will present awareness programs for new students and new employees, in addition to on-going awareness campaigns each academic year related to the awareness of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking for all students and staff.

More information can be found on the Federal Government website www.notalone.gov

• Safe Colleges Training for Students (Registration key is: 9bb21dd4 )
• Safe Colleges Training for Faculty and Staff (Registration key is: 05bf92c1 )

Reporting – Employee Obligations

All employees are encouraged to report incidents of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual harassment to the College’s Title IX Coordinator. Some employees, however, will have a mandatory duty to report incidents if they know or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that a violation has occurred. Responsible employees include those who have the authority to take corrective action and those who students reasonably could believe have such authority. Responsible employees include the President, Vice Presidents, Dean, faculty, security guards, directors, human resources staff, and coaches.

Campus Resources

Title IX Coordinator

Teena Marie Wilson
Room M-205
4015 Ave Q
Galveston, TX 77550
[email protected]
409-944-1281

The Title IX Coordinator has been designated to coordinate the College’s anti-discrimination procedures

Community Resources

The Resource Crisis Center:
1802 Broadway, Suite 122
Galveston, TX 77550
[email protected]
(409) 763-1441

Family Service Center (Sexual Assault Counseling)
2200 Market Street, Suite 600
Galveston, TX 77550
409-762-8636

The Bridge Over Troubled Waters
24-Hour Hotline: 713-473-2801

Galveston County District Attorney’s Office
Victims Assistance Counseling
409-766-2355

Bay Area Turning Point, Inc.
24-Hour Hotline: 281-286-2525

Houston Area Women’s Center
Rape Crisis Hotline: 713-528-7273
Domestic Violence Hotline: 713-528-2121

Women’s Center of Brazoria County
281-485-0934

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-SAFE

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)
1-800-656-HOPE

National Center for Victims of Crime
1-800-394-2255

National Crime Prevention Council
202-466-6272

Joyful Heart Foundation
The Joyful Heart Foundation’s mission is to heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, and to shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues.

National Sexual Violence Resource Center
The NSVRC’s Mission is to provide leadership in preventing and responding to sexual violence through collaboration, sharing and creating resources, and promoting research.

Not Alone
Information for students, schools, and anyone interested in finding resources on how to respond to and prevent sexual assault on college and university campuses and in our schools.

Know Your IX
Know Your IX is a national survivor-run, student-driven campaign to end campus sexual violence.

Texas Association Against Sexual Assault
The Texas Association Against Sexual Assault is committed to ending sexual violence in Texas through education, prevention and advocacy.

Denim Day: There’s no excuse and never an invitation to rape
Peace Over Violence has run the Denim Day in L.A. and USA campaign on a Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Violence Awareness Month.

The Recovery Village
Peace Over Violence has run the Denim Day in L.A. and USA campaign on a Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Violence Awareness Month.

Definition of Consent

Some of the offenses listed below turn on whether the victim has given consent for the activity. “Consent” is the affirmative, unambiguous, and voluntary agreement to engage in a specific sexual activity during a sexual encounter. Consent is communicated through mutually understandable words or actions that indicate willingness by all of the involved parties to engage in the same sexual activity, at the same time, and in the same way. Consent may be given verbally; however, consent (or lack of consent) also may be expressed through gestures and body language. Consent cannot be freely given if the person’s ability to understand and give consent is impaired. Examples of those who are impaired and therefore cannot give consent include but are not limited to:

• Any person who is incapacitated due to the use of alcohol and/or other drugs.
• Any person who is asleep or unconscious or for any reason is physically incapacitated.
• Any person who is mentally impaired or has a mental disability.
• Any person younger than 17 years old.
• Any person who has been subjected to the explicit or implicit use of force, coercion, threats and/or intimidation.

Silence does not equal consent. Additionally, consent to one form of sexual activity does not necessarily imply consent to other forms of sexual activity. Similarly, a prior sexual history or dating history between the participants does not constitute consent. Further, any party has the right to change his or her mind and withdraw consent at any time through

Awareness Videos

Criminal Offenses

Murder: The willful (non-negligent) killing of a human being by another. Note: Deaths caused by negligence, attempts to kill, assaults to kill, suicides, accidental deaths, and justifiable homicides are excluded.

Manslaughter: the killing of another person through gross negligence. Gross negligence is the intentional failure to perform a manifest duty in reckless disregard of the consequences as affecting the life or property of another.

Sex Offenses: Any sexual act directed against another person, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent.

Rape: The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.

Fondling: The touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her age or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental incapacity.

Incest: Non-forcible sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law.

Statutory Rape: Non-forcible sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent.

Robbery: The taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear.

Aggravated Assault: An unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault usually is accompanied by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily harm. It is not necessary that injury result from an aggravated assault when a gun, knife or other weapon is used which could or probably would result in a serious potential injury if the crime were successfully completed.

Burglary: The unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or a theft. For reporting purposes this definition includes: unlawful entry with intent to commit a larceny or a felony; breaking and entering with intent to commit a larceny; housebreaking; safecracking; and all attempts to commit any of the aforementioned.

Motor Vehicle Theft: the theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle, including joyriding.

Arson: Any willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling, house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, personal property of another, etc.

Dating Violence: Violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on the reporting party’s statement and with consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship. Dating violence includes, but is not limited to, sexual or physical abuse or the threat of such abuse.

Domestic Violence: The term “domestic violence” refers to a pattern of abusive behavior between two individuals formerly or currently in an intimate relationship, including through marriage, cohabitation, dating, or within a familial or household arrangement. Abuse may be in the form of physical assault, sexual assault, bodily injury, emotional distress, physical endangerment, or when the imminent threat of any of these instances puts the victim in fear of their occurrence. The term encompasses acts committed by by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, and by a person similarly situated to a spouse or the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred.

Stalking: a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress. “Course of conduct” means two more acts, including, but not limited to, acts in which the stalker directly or indirectly, or through third parties, by any action, method, device or means.

Referrals for Discipline

For Weapons, Drug, and Liquor Law Violations, Clery reportable crimes are those incidents only where arrests or disciplinary referrals occur.

Weapon Law Violations: the violation of laws or ordinances dealing with weapon offenses, regulatory in nature, such as: manufacture, sale, or possession of deadly weapons; carrying deadly weapons, concealed or openly; furnishing deadly weapons to minors; aliens possessing deadly weapons; all attempts to commit any of the aforementioned.

Drug Abuse Violations: Violations of state and local laws relating to the unlawful possession, sale, use, growing, manufacturing, and making of narcotic drugs. The relevant substances include opium or cocaine and their derivatives (morphine, heroin, codeine); marijuana; synthetic narcotics (Demerol, methadones); and dangerous non-narcotic drugs (barbiturates, Benzedrine).

Liquor Law Violations: The violation of laws or ordinance prohibiting: the manufacture, sale, transporting, furnishing, possessing of intoxicating liquor; maintaining unlawful drinking places; bootlegging; operating a still; furnishing liquor to minor or intemperate person; using a vehicle for illegal transportation of liquor; drinking on a train or public conveyance; all attempts to commit any of the aforementioned. Drunkenness and driving under the influence are not included in this definition. Alcohol violations referred for campus disciplinary action under the Campus Code need not be reported to the Police Department.

Hate Crimes

A crime involving one or more of the above listed crimes, the crimes of theft, simple assault, intimidation and/or vandalism reported to local police agencies or to a campus security authority that manifests evidence that the victim was intentionally selected because of the perpetrator’s bias against the victim. The categories of bias include the victim’s actual or perceived race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, and disability.

Larceny-Theft (Except Motor Vehicle Theft): The unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another. Attempted larcenies are included. Embezzlement, confidence games, forgery, worthless checks, etc., are excluded.

Simple Assault: An unlawful physical attack by one person upon another where neither the offender displays a weapon, nor the victim suffers obvious severe or aggravated bodily injury involving apparent broken bones, loss of teeth, possible internal injury, severe laceration, or loss of consciousness.

Intimidation: To unlawfully place another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words and/or other conduct, but without displaying a weapon or subjecting the victim to actual physical attack.

Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property: To willfully or maliciously destroy, damage, deface, or otherwise injure real of personal property without the consent of the owner or the person having custody or control of it.

Confidential Consultations

The College is required by law to investigate and respond to reports of sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other acts of sexual misconduct. Therefore, most College personnel will have a duty to report complaints to the College’s Title IX Coordinator. Some victims, however, may prefer a confidential consultation before deciding a course of action. Confidential communications are those communications that cannot be disclosed to another person without the victim’s consent. Victims may speak confidentially with a counselor* in the College’s Counseling Center, or off-campus personnel including medical professionals, licensed professional counselors, pastoral (religious) counselors, and certain counselors at a victim’s crisis center. These individuals are not required to make a report to the College’s Title IX Coordinator. Free short term counseling is available by calling Patricia Merkley at the Family Service Center 409-762-8636.

* Counselors and Student Success Advisors are available as a resource where students my obtain information about support services. These individuals are not required to report the names of victims to the College’s Title IX Coordinator. However, these individuals will be required to report de-identified information such as the date, time, and nature of the incident. The purpose of this general reporting obligation is to enable the College to identify patterns or trends involving sexual harassment or violence. For general information about the complaint process, please visit with the College’s Title IX Coordinator.

Reporting Options
Students and employees have several options when reporting harassment, discrimination, sexual violence, domestic violence, dating, or stalking. These include:

Filing an electronic Incident Report: This is for incidents of Sexual Assault, Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Harassment, Dating or Domestic Violence, and Stalking ONLY. Filing this incident report constitutes official notice to Galveston College and authorizes the institution to investigate the information and allegations contained within the report and seek resolution. Please be advised, if the report is submitted anonymously the College will be unable to inform you of the outcome.Submitting this report notifies the following College entities of the incident:

• Associate Vice President of Student Services, Mr. Ron Crumedy• Title IX Coordinator, Ms. Teena Marie Wilson• Director of Security, Dr. Van Patterson

Electronic Incident Report Form

2. Filing a report in person with:
• Associate Vice President of Student Services, Mr. Ron Crumedy• Title IX Coordinator, Ms. Teena Marie Wilson• Director of Security, Dr. Van Patterson

Clery Act reporting does not include any personal identifying information.

Internal Complaint:
Students may use this procedure to file a complaint against another a student, a College employee, College contractors, or third parties who are visiting the College or participating in a College activity. This complaint procedure constitutes the grievance procedure required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. As used in this procedure, “complaint” and “grievance” are synonymous.

Associate Vice President of Student Services (Complaints involving students only)
Phone 409-944-1340
Fax 409-944-1500
Email [email protected]

Title IX Coordinator (Complaints involving employees of Galveston College)
Phone 409-944-1281
Fax 409-944-1500
Email [email protected]

Director of Advising and Counseling (Confidential reporting)
Phone 409-944-1222
Fax 409-944-1500
Email [email protected]

Police Complaint:
Students who have experienced a sexual assault, sexual violence, stalking, domestic violence, or other crimes may file a report directly with Campus Security or any local law enforcement agency. Students are not required to file a police complaint in order to receive assistance from the College. Additionally, reporting an offense does not commit the student to pursuing further legal action. Students who desire assistance in order to make a police report may contact the Director of Facilities and Security, Associate Vice President of Student Services, the Counseling Office, or the Title IX Coordinator.

Contact the Galveston College Security Department

From campus phone: 361
from cell phones: 409-944-1361

Contact the Galveston Police Department (non-emergency)

409-765-3702

Office for Civil Rights:
Students who have experienced discrimination or harassment based on a protected status may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education.

Reporting – Employee Obligations
All employees are encouraged to report incidents of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual harassment to the College’s Title IX Coordinator. Some employees, however, will have a mandatory duty to report incidents if they know or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that a violation has occurred. Responsible employees include those who have the authority to take corrective action and those who students reasonably could believe have such authority. Responsible employees include the President, Vice Presidents, Dean, faculty, security guards, directors, human resources staff, and coaches.

Clery Reportable Crimes
Under the Clery Act, Galveston College is required to track the occurrence of certain crimes occurring on or near campus:

On Campus: any building or property owned or controlled by an institution within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area and used by the institution in direct support of, or in a manner related to, the institution’s educational purposes, including residence halls. This also includes any building or property that is within or reasonably contiguous to the geographic area that is owned by the institution but controlled by another person, is frequently used by students, and supports institutional purposes (such as a food or other retail vendor).

Non-Campus: any building or property owned or controlled by an institution that is used in direct support of, or in relation to, the institution’s educational purposes, is frequently used by students, and is not within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area of the institution. This also includes any building or property owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by the institution.

Public Property: all public property, including thoroughfares, streets, sidewalks, and parking facilities, that is within the campus, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.

The preceding definitions are brief statements of longer legal definitions. For a complete list of Clery definitions please go to the National Center for Education Statistics website.

SB212

Dear Galveston College Community,

Senate Bill 212 (SB 212) was signed into state law after the 2019 Texas legislative session and is now in full effect as of January 1, 2020. All new reporting obligations and penalties in the law must be followed.

The law addresses reporting requirements for incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking at certain public and private institutions of higher education, including GC. For a detailed definition of these terms, please review Board Policy DIAA & Board Policy FLDA

As a reminder:

As of January 1, all employees who witness or receive information about sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking that involve a current student or employee must promptly report the incident to the College’s Title IX Coordinator or designee. Reports can be made by phone: 409-944-1281; email or online .
Reports to the Title IX Coordinator must include all relevant information that is known about the incident.
Student employees are encouraged, but not required, to report under SB 212. However, if a student employee is designated as a responsible employee, they are still required to report under Title IX and their responsible employee duties.
Retaliation against persons who make a good faith report is prohibited.
An employee who does not report an incident or who makes a false report can be charged with a criminal offense (Class B or Class A Misdemeanor). If an employee fails to make a required report or makes a false report, the law requires that the employee be terminated.
GC Counselors have been designated by the college as confidential or private employees. They are only required to report the type of incident. Students can talk to confidential to GC Counselors about a Title IX related matter with assurance that confidential employees may not reveal the student’s identity or other identifying information.
The Title IX Coordinator must submit a written report of the reports received by the institution, to the President at least quarterly

All College employees are required to complete Safe Colleges Online Training within 90 days of hire Safe College’s Training

Galveston College takes all allegations of misconduct and assessing potential threats to student safety seriously. Our processes surrounding misconduct are thorough, fair, and of the utmost importance to our mission and we continue to proactively seek ways to ensure our community members feel safe.

Sincerely,

Teena Marie Wilson
Title IX Coordinator

Our Professional Training Resources

Galveston College's Title IX Coordinator, Investigator, and Decision-Maker attended a comprehensive six-day virtual training program hosted by ATIXA (Association of Title IX Administrators). This training covered essential aspects of Title IX compliance and beyond.

Please contact the Title IX Coordinator's office to view the Certificates of Completion for our Title IX personnel from the Title IX & Beyond Training Program.

Association of Title IX Administrators: https://atixa.org/

The following documents are not the property of Galveston College:

Title IX Coordinator Foundations: Sex-Based Harassment for Higher Education

Title IX Coordinator Foundations: Gender Equity for Higher Education

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Title IX Training:

Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, and Stalking New State Mandates for Postsecondary Educational Institutions

Title IX Coordinator Training

Rapid Response Title IX Training:

Rapid Response Webinar: Understanding the Final Title IX Rule and Its Impact

View CEO Report 2022-2023

View CEO Report 2021-2022

View CEO Report 2020-2021

View CEO Report 2019-2020

TITLE IX