Sexual Violence Response and Prevention

Any sexual violence, harassment or physical abuse occurring on Santa Monica College property, or at a Santa Monica College event or activity is a VIOLATION of District policies and regulations and violators/perpetrators will be dealt with according to the laws and regulations of the District, City of Santa Monica, State of California and federal government. The following are important resources to assist when sexually related violence or harassment has occurred.

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Santa Monica College Resources

Other Important Links and Information Resources

Sexual harassment and sexual misconduct involving the District and/or its’ students and staff are forms of sexual discrimination prohibited by Title IX. Sexual harassment against an individual may take the form of sexual exploitation, gender based harassment, sexual stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, intimidation or retaliation following an incident.

Sexual misconduct refers to unwanted physical sexual acts such as unwanted touching, kissing, sexual coercion and rape perpetrated against a person’s will or where a person is incapable of giving consent due to the person’s use of drugs or alcohol. An individual also may be unable to give consent due to an intellectual or other disability.

What is Title IX?

“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.”
- Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 to the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Title IX is a landmark civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education, and renders all discrimination and violence against an individual based on sex, sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, and sexual assault as unlawful. Title IX protects any person from sex-based discrimination, regardless of their biological or self-identified gender. (See https://www.dol.gov/oasam/regs/statutes/titleix.htm)

Santa Monica College is committed to creating and maintaining a community dedicated to the advancement, application and transmission of knowledge and creative endeavors through academic excellence, where all individuals who participate in SMC programs and activities can work and learn together in an atmosphere that is safe, welcoming, free of harassment, exploitation, or intimidation. SMC recognizes that sexual misconduct is a serious issue. SMC will not tolerate acts of sexual misconduct, including, but not limited to rape as defined by California law, by an employee, student, or member of the public on SMC property or at a SMC sponsored activities. Such acts are in violation of SMC policies and procedures and will be investigated. Violators will be subjected to all applicable punishment, including criminal, and employee or student discipline procedures. Students, faculty, and staff who may be victims of sexual misconduct shall be treated with dignity and provided comprehensive support.

For more information, click on the following links: