Section I: Purpose

Kalamazoo College (the College) is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive campus for all. As set forth in its Nondiscrimination Policy, the College is committed to equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal protection under the law and strictly prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment in its employment practices and its education programs, activities, and services on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, height, weight, marital status, familial status, veteran status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.

As part of this commitment, the College’s Policy Against Harassment (On the Basis Of Protected Characteristics) and Sex Discrimination aims to clearly define the following:

  • Title IX Prohibited Conduct
    • Title IX sex discrimination, Title IX sexual harassment (including Title IX sexual assault, Title IX domestic violence, Title IX dating violence, and Title IX stalking), and Title IX retaliation consistent with the Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S. C. § 1681 et seq.
  • Other Prohibited Conduct
    • Discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, sex-based harassment (including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking), and retaliation as these terms are defined by this Policy and applicable law.
    • Harassment on the basis of protected characteristics as these terms are defined by this Policy and applicable law.
    • Consensual relationships of a sexual nature between employees and students.

The Policy also sets forth the following:

  • Title IX Process and Grievance Procedures
    • Title IX processes for how to report Title IX prohibited conduct and/or file a Title IX formal complaint and how the College will respond to a report or Title IX formal complaint; and
    • Title IX grievance procedures that provide for the prompt and equitable resolutions of Title IX sexual harassment formal complaints.
  • Other Processes and Grievance Procedures
    • Processes for how to report other prohibited discrimination and harassment on the basis of protected characteristics and how the College will respond; and
    • Grievance procedures that provide for prompt and equitable resolutions of allegations of harassment on the basis of protected characteristics, including sex-based harassment.

The College’s policies, processes, and grievance procedures are consistent with applicable law, including but not limited to Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S. C. § 1681 et seq. (Title IX), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e–2000e17 (as amended) (Title VII), and the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (1976) of the State of Michigan, MCLS § 37.2101 et seq.