Title IX and Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct
Skidmore College is committed to promoting a campus environment where sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and retaliation are not tolerated, and where every member of the community is expected to do their part to prevent and address violence.
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options & resources
If you have any questions or need to make a report, please email the Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX.
If you'd prefer, you can also make an anonymous report.
Please visit our sexual and gender-based misconduct victim and survivor resources page to learn what next steps you should take if you're experiencing misconduct.
Please visit our sexual and gender-based misconduct respondent resources page to learn what next steps you shoudl take if you're responding to misconduct.
Confidential resources, such as the Counseling Center, Health Services, Health Promotions, and Wellspring are those individuals who, by law and/or College policy, are obligated to maintain confidentiality of allegations of SGBM.
External, trauma-informed, and confidential professionals at Wellspring or Planned Parenthood, who can work with Complainant and accompany them to procedural meetings and the hearing.
External providers, such as Wellspring and Planned Parenthood, for advocacy, guidance, and support if an individual does not want to work with Skidmore personnel.
Review the definitions of terms used throughout the relevant policies and procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. Title IX states that: "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."
What does that mean?
Through Title IX and Skidmore’s anti-harassment policies, you have support for incidents related to:
- Sexual harassment
- Sexual assault
- Dating violence
- Domestic violence
- Stalking
- Exploitation
Support and accommodations
Yes, an individual can come forward to seek supportive measures without filing a formal complaint. However, if information reported requires the College to investigate the matter for the safety and protection of our community in accordance with federal and state laws, then the College will do so. Once again, no one will be forced to participate in the process.
Reporting sexual and gender-based misconduct
If the incident reported represents an emergency or an immediate risk to health/safety, Campus Safety or local police will take immediate steps to protect the community and any relevant party.
If the incident reported does not constitute an immediate threat or after any such steps to address the emergency are taken, the Title IX coordinator or designee will reach out to the complainant to schedule a time to review their options, rights, and resources.
When meeting with the Title IX coordinator to review your options, rights, and resources, you will be informed that you do have the right to request for the College not to investigate.
If you make such a request, the College will determine whether it can grant such a request or if the College is required to investigate based on the information provided in accordance with College policy and federal and state laws. For more information, please reference the 2023-2024 Title IX Policy for Students.
Students can contact the Counseling Center at 518-580-5555 or a Victim Advocate at 518-580-5684 to speak with someone confidentially. Employees can contact EAP at 518-793-9768. For someone off-campus, you can contact Wellspring at 518-584-8188. For more information, please see options and resources on the Title IX page.
Yes, third parties can report an incident that happened to other Skidmore student, faculty, staff, or community members. However, only the complainant or the Title IX coordinator can initiate a formal complaint.
No party will ever be required to participate in the process.
Students can by using the Anonymous Reporting Form. This option is not yet formally available to employees.
Formal complaint process
No. Parties can still select an advisor of their own choosing with the understanding that for the hearing, each party has the right to have their advisor conduct cross-examination of any other party or witness.
No. If you file a formal complaint, the allegations reported will determine whether the Title IX process has jurisdiction and must be utilized.
Parties are able to work with an advisor of their choice (AoC) throughout the reporting, investigation, and adjudication process. Each party is required to have an AoC to conduct cross-examination on the party’s behalf during the live hearing. While Skidmore cannot control who a party selects as their AoC, Skidmore will provide an AoC to parties that do not have one. AoCs provided by the College will have received training and demonstrated competence in trauma-informed practices, effective and appropriate questioning, and institutional policies and processes.
The new regulations require that questions and evidence regarding a complainant’s sexual predisposition and sexual behavior are automatically deemed irrelevant, and thus cannot be used during the investigation and adjudication process. However, the regulations specify two exceptions to this provision that may be considered relevant:
- Questions and evidence about the complainant’s prior sexual behavior that are offered to prove that someone other than the respondent committed the conduct;
- Questions and evidence that concern specific incidents of the complainant’s prior sexual behavior with respect to the respondent and are offered to prove consent.
No one will be forced to participate in any part of the reporting, investigation, or adjudication process. Parties or witnesses who decline to participate in the live hearing will still be permitted to have their previous statements and submitted evidence be considered by the adjudication panel for reaching a determination of responsibility.