The College is committed to providing an educational and employment environment that is free from discrimination based on protected characteristics, harassment, and retaliation for engaging in protected activity. The College values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of its community and strives to balance the rights of the Parties in the resolution process during what is often a difficult time for all involved.
If a student reports discrimination, harassment or hate crime, they can expect that their concerns will be treated with respect and sensitivity and that each matter will be taken seriously.
Reporting Incidents of Discrimination
Nondiscrimination incidents are any act, conduct, or communication that reasonably is understood to harass, deny, deprive, unreasonably interfere with or limit the education or employment of an individual or group based on an actual or perceived: age; citizenship status; color; creed; disability; domestic violence victim status; ethnicity; familial responsibilities; genetic information; marital status; national origin/ancestry; personal appearance; political belief or affiliation; race; religion; residence; source of income; veteran or military status; weight; or any other protected characteristic under applicable local, state, or federal law. The College will respond to reports of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation which it has knowledge/notice of and will take prompt action to eliminate such conduct, prevent its recurrence, and remedy any adverse effects in the College鈥檚 education programs and activities, including, as appropriate, by way of the Grievance Procedures outlined below.
Note that there are broader categories utilized here than what appears in the College鈥檚 Statement of Non-discrimination. The Statement of Non-discrimination only focuses on categories that are protected by law, while the College鈥檚 Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy covers categories that are not covered by law, but that are covered under College policies.
Mount Holyoke will act on reports of incidents of bias discrimination received through the on-line reporting form,by a mandatory reporter, or through direct reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Compliance or the Director of Civil Rights. When receiving reports, every effort is made to preserve the privacy of reports and to respect an individual鈥檚 desire for confidentiality; however, the College may be legally required to take action depending on the nature of the report. The reporting party will be informed if, in the course of satisfying this obligation, the College may be unable to comply with a request for confidentiality. Reports can be made anonymously with the on-line form and while anonymous reporting can help the College monitor campus climate and inform potential program planning it can be difficult for the Assistant Vice President for Compliance or the Director of Civil Rights to follow up on a specific incident without knowing the parties involved.
Hate Crimes
Under Massachusetts law, hate crimes are those motivated by or against a person or group on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability, ethnic/national origin, gender, and gender identity. Hate crimes encompass not only violence against people or groups, but also crimes against property, such as arson or vandalism, particularly those directed against community centers or houses of worship. Hate crimes can occur in any of the following ways:
- Intimidating or threatening behavior that puts a person in fear of imminent physical harm (assault, threats to commit certain crimes).
- A physical attack (assault and battery, as well as other violent crimes such as murder, manslaughter and rape).
- Damage to property (arson, vandalism).
Targeted Individuals
A targeted individual is the person or group against whom a bias incident or hate crime is directed. This may or may not be the same as the reporting party. The College recommends using one of these terms rather than the word victim.
