G-28-5 Retaliation

Note:  G-28-5 used to refer to COCC’s confidentiality policy; this policy has been moved to G-28-4.

COCC prohibits retaliation against a person(s) who:

• Reported or filed a discrimination or sexual harassment complaint,
• Participated in the investigation or adjudication of such a complaint, or
• Assisted or supported others in bringing forward a complaint.

Retaliation is defined as conduct that may reasonably be perceived to adversely affect a person’s educational or work environment because of their good-faith participation in the reporting, investigation, and/or resolution of a real or alleged violation of Title IX or COCC sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking policy. Retaliation also includes discouraging a reasonable person from making a report or participating in an investigation under this policy.

Retaliation can be committed by any individual or group of individuals, including by proxy, of those involved with the concern. Retaliation constitutes a violation of this policy even if the underlying allegations did not result in a finding or if the report is dismissed.

Acts of retaliation may be added to existing report and/or investigated separately at the discretion of the College.