Human Resources

Title IX and Sex Discrimination

Glossary

 

Term
Definition
Advisor
A person chosen by a party or appointed by the institution to accompany the party to meetings related to the resolution process, to advise the party on that process and to conduct cross-examination for the party at the hearing, if any.
Complainant
An individual who is alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute harassment or discrimination based on a protected class or retaliation for engaging in a protected activity.
Complaint
A document signed by a complainant or signed by the Title IX coordinator alleging harassment or discrimination based on a protected class or retaliation for engaging in a protected activity against a respondent and requesting that Wake Technical Community College investigate the allegation.
Confidential resource
An employee who is not a mandated reporter of notice of harassment, discrimination and/or retaliation, irrespective of Clery Act Campus Security Authority status.
Day
A business day when the college is in normal operation.
Directly related evidence
Evidence connected to the complaint that is neither inculpatory (tending to prove a violation) nor exculpatory (tending to disprove a violation) and will not be relied upon by the investigation report.
Education program or activity
Locations, events or circumstances where the college exercises substantial control over both the respondent and the context in which the sexual harassment or discrimination occurs and also includes any building owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized the college.
Final determination
A conclusion by the standard of proof that the alleged conduct did or did not violate policy.
Finding
A conclusion by the standard of proof that the conduct did or did not occur as alleged, as in a "finding of fact."
Formal grievance process
"Process A," a method of formal resolution designated by the college to address conduct that falls within the policies and which complies with the requirements of the Title IX regulations (34 CFR §106.45).
Grievance process pool
Any investigators, hearing officers, appeal officers and advisors who may perform any or all of these roles, though not at the same time or with respect to the same case.
Hearing decision-maker or panel
Those who have decision-making and sanctioning authority within the college's formal grievance process.
Investigator
The person or persons charged by the college with gathering facts about an alleged violation of the policy, assessing relevance and credibility, synthesizing the evidence and compiling the information into an investigation report and file of directly related evidence.
Mandated reporter
An employee of the college who is obligated by policy to share knowledge, notice and/or reports of harassment, discrimination and/or retaliation with the Title IX coordinator and/or his or her supervisor.
Notice
An employee, student or third party informs the Title IX coordinator or other official with authority of the alleged occurrence of harassing, discriminatory and/or retaliatory conduct.
Official with authority
An employee of the college explicitly vested with the responsibility to implement corrective measures for harassment, discrimination and/or retaliation on behalf of the college.
Parties
The complainant(s) and respondent(s), collectively.
Process A
The formal grievance process.
Process B
The administrative resolution procedures that apply only when Process A does not, as determination by the Title IX Coordinator.
Relevant evidence
Evidence that tends to prove or disprove an issue in the complaint.
Respondent
An individual who has been reported to be the perpetrator of conduct that could constitute harassment or discrimination based on a protected class or retaliation for engaging in a protected activity.
Resolution
The result of an informal or formal grievance process.
Sanction
A consequence imposed by the college on a respondent who is found to have violated the policy.
Sexual harassment
The umbrella category including the offenses of sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence and domestic violence. See Section 17.b. for greater detail.
Strong remedies
Post-finding actions directed to the complainant and/or the community as mechanisms to address safety, prevent recurrence and restore access to Wake Technical Community College's educational program.
Title IX coordinator
At least one official designated by Wake Technical Community College to ensure compliance with Title IX and the college's Title IX program. The coordinator may appoint a designee for specific tasks.
Title IX team
The Title IX coordinator, deputy coordinators, investigators and any member of the grievance process pool.