Title IX

Bossier Parish Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, qualified disability, marital status, veteran’s status, or sexual orientation in admission to its programs, services, or activities, in access to them, in treatment of individuals, or in any aspect of its operations. Bossier Parish Community College does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices.

Title IX Coordinator
Tierney “Teri” Bashara, Director of Human Resources
Human Resources Office, A-105
6220 East Texas Street
Bossier City, LA 71111
Phone: 318-678-6056
Email: tbashara@bpcc.edu
Hours: 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday, excluding holidays and weekends.

OR

U.S. Department of Education
Office of Civil Rights
Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg.
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1100
Phone: (800) 421-3481
Fax (202) 453-6012; TDD (800) 877-8339
Email: ocr@ed.gov

Retaliation against any person who initiates an inquiry or complaint or participates in the investigation of a complaint is prohibited. Such conduct will be further cause for disciplinary action.

BPCC has trained Confidential Advisors who serve to aid persons involved in a sexual misconduct complaint in the resolution process as a confidential resource. See current list of BPCC Confidential Advisors.

Any person who has been impacted by sexual violence (sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking) or gender-based misconduct is encouraged to report and seek appropriate resources at the BPCC Title IX Website or contact the College's Title IX Coordinator, Tierney “Teri” Bashara, at tbashara@bpcc.edu or (318) 678-6056 to discuss your options.

As part of its commitment to providing an educational environment free from discrimination, Bossier Parish Community College complies with Title IX of the Education Amendments, which prohibits discrimination and harassment based upon sex in an institution’s education programs and activities. Title IX prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual violence, of students at Bossier Parish Community College sponsored activities and programs whether occurring on or off campus. Title IX also protects third-parties, such as visiting student athletes, from sexual harassment or sexual violence in BPCC’s programs and activities and protects employees from sexual harassment and discrimination. Prohibited harassment includes acts of verbal, nonverbal or physical aggression, intimidation or hostility based on sex, even if those acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature; sex-based harassment by those of the same sex; and discriminatory sex stereotyping. BPCC will take prompt action to investigate and resolve reports of sexual harassment or sexual violence in accordance with Title IX.

BPCC’s Title IX Coordinator is Tierney “Teri” Bashara, Bldg. A -105, 6220 E. Texas Street, Bossier City, LA 71111. Phone: (318) 678-6056. Email: tbashara@bpcc.edu 

Retaliation against any person who initiates an inquiry or complaint or participates in the investigation of a complaint is prohibited. Such conduct will be further cause for disciplinary action.

Disability Services coordinates campus-wide efforts to provide services and accommodations for students with disabilities. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the office ensures that eligible students receive proper classroom modification and serves as a liaison between faculty and students. Medical or psychological documentation is required to recognize a disability.

Bossier Parish Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, qualified disability, marital status, veteran’s status, or sexual orientation in admission to its programs, services, or activities, in access to them, in treatment of individuals, or in any aspect of its operations, Bossier Parish Community College does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices. More information is available on the College’s Disability Services website.

Coordinator for Section 504 and ADA
Angie Cao, Student and Disability Services Specialist
Disability Services Office, F254
6220 East Texas Street, Bossier City, LA 71111
Phone number: 318-678-6511
Email: acao@bpcc.edu
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, excluding holidays and weekends.

BPCC is committed to providing a learning and working environment free of sexual discrimination and sexual misconduct. Sexual discrimination and sexual misconduct violate an individual’s fundamental rights and personal dignity. BPCC considers sexual misconduct and sexual discrimination in any form to be a serious offense. Anyone who believes there has been an act of discrimination on the basis of sex against any person or group in a program or activity that receives federal financial assistance may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, under Title IX legislation. The person or organization filing the complaint need not be a victim of the alleged discrimination but may be affected by a general “hostile sexual environment” or may complain on behalf of another person or group.

A complaint can be filed one of two ways:

1. Contact BPCC’s Title IX Coordinator, Tierney “Teri” Bashara, at (318) 678-6056 or tbashara@bpcc.edu.
2. Contact the Office of Civil Rights Enforcement Office that serves the state in which the alleged discrimination occurred.

Dallas Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1620
Dallas, Texas 75201-6810

Telephone: (214) 661-9600
FAX: (214) 661-9587; TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: ocr.dallas@ed.gov

While all sexual discrimination and sexual misconduct complaints must be filed with the Title IX Coordinator, student-involved complaints will use the student judicial process for disciplinary measures, as applicable. Employee-involved complaints will use Human Resources processes to determine the appropriate disciplinary action, or recommendation for disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and/or applicable Bossier Parish Community College and Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) policies. See the LCTCS Policy #2.015, Campus Sexual Misconduct.

Under Title IX, if you choose to report sexual assault or harassment, the person to whom you report may be required to submit a form, which is used to compute campus crime statistics as mandated by the Clery Act. You may use this form to report an incident; however, you do not have to provide any details beyond those you with which you are comfortable sharing, and you have no obligation to give the accused person’s name if you do not want to. You may or may not be able to report anonymously, depending on the person to whom you report, but in no case will your name appear in the College’s public crime statistics. You have a right to access your incident report in the future, which may involve getting a case number for reference.

The College’s Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Nondiscrimination Policy and the and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System Policy #2.015, Campus Sexual Misconduct define a responsible employee as those employees with the authority to take action and redress sexual violence, and have been given the duty of reporting incidents of sexual misconduct by students and employees to the Title IX Coordinator.

All Bossier Parish Community College employees are designated as responsible employees, with the exception of those employees who are authorized or required by law to keep information confidential by virtue of their role. Responsible employees have a duty to report incidents of sexual violence or misconduct to the College's Title IX Coordinator or other designated College official.

Title IX requires reporting from "responsible employees," which include:

1. Those with authority to address and remedy sex and gender-based discrimination and harassment; and/or
2. Those with responsibility to report sexual misconduct to supervisor, Title IX Coordinator, or other designated College official; and/or
3. Those who a student would reasonably believe have such authority or obligation; and/or
4. All supervisors of other employees

Title IX does not consider the following as responsible employees because they are authorized or required by law to keep information confidential by virtue of their role:

1. Confidential Advisors
2. Licensed Mental Health Counselors

Accordingly, individuals working in the above-described capacities at the College are not designated as responsible employees.

Taking a stand and looking out for one another’s safety is a core value of BPCC. Committing to this value includes intervening when we observe anyone whose safety is being threatened, being harassed or is in danger of sexual assault or violence. BPCC holds its employees to a high standard of never being silent and never being passive bystanders. Accordingly, College employees receive training on reporting and disclosure of sexual assault or violence as part of the College’s sexual harassment, assault and violence prevention training. The online course fulfills the primary prevention and risk reduction program for current and new faculty and staff as part of the Campus SaVE act on sexual harassment and sexual violence to fulfill Title IX requirements. Through this training, employees also have the opportunity to better understand the impact of Title IX and the Educational Amendments of 1972 on colleges and universities, their employees, and students.

BPCC has trained Confidential Advisors who serve to aid persons involved in a sexual misconduct complaint in the resolution process as a confidential resource. See current list of BPCC Confidential Advisors.

See the U.S. Department of Education's Know Your Rights: Pregnant or Parenting resource for more information.

See the U.S. Department of Justice’s Dear Colleague Letter for more information.

The Clery Act is a law that requires colleges and universities to be transparent in posting crime statistics on their campuses. It takes this charge a step further by requiring educational institutions to keep their students informed on statistics and how to protect themselves from sexual assault, relationship violence, and sexual harassment.

Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) is committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which sexual violence against men and women is not tolerated. Intervening in such instances helps to foster a safe environment for all, while sending a message that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated and is unacceptable in our community. BPCC is a college community where respect, consent and responsibility are valued. We are all responsible for ensuring that no one has to endure sexual violence of any sort. To this end, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System and BPCC present the Clery Act Training Course which is designed to inform, enlighten and educate BPCC students, faculty, and staff regarding sexual violence. 

A sexual act or contact of a sexual nature that occurs, regardless of personal relationship, without the consent of the other person(s), or that occurs when the person(s) is unable to give consent or whose consent is coerced or obtained in a fraudulent manner. For the purpose of this Policy, sexual misconduct includes, but is not limited to, sexual assault, sexual abuse, violence of a sexual nature, sexual harassment, non-consensual sexual intercourse, sexual exploitation, video voyeurism, contact of a sexual nature with an object, or the obtaining, posting or disclosure of intimate descriptions, photos, or videos without the express consent of the persons depicted therein, as well as dating violence, domestic violence and stalking.

As defined by the Clery Act, an offense that meets the definition of rape, fondling, incest, or statutory rape as used in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program.

Sexual Assault as Defined by Louisiana State Law

• Non-Consensual Sexual Intercourse
• Having or attempting to have sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, or fellatio without consent. Sexual intercourse is defined as anal or vaginal penetration by a penis, tongue, finger, or inanimate object.
• Non-Consensual Sexual Contact
• Any intentional sexual touching, or attempted sexual touching, without consent

An act attempted or committed by a person for sexual gratification, financial gain, or other advancement through the abuse or exploitation of another person's sexuality. Examples of sexual exploitation include, but are not limited to, non-consensual observation of individuals who are undressed or engaging in sexual acts, non-consensual audio- or videotaping of sexual activity, prostituting another person, allowing others to observe a personal consensual sexual act without the knowledge or consent of all involved parties, and knowingly exposing an individual to a sexually transmitted infection without that individual's knowledge.

Stalking as Defined by Clery Act

An intentional and repeated following or harassing that would cause a reasonable person to feel alarmed or that would cause a reasonable person to suffer emotional distress or intentional and repeated uninvited presence at another person's: home, work place, school, or any other place which would cause a reasonable person to be alarmed or would cause a reasonable person to suffer emotional distress as a result of verbal or behaviorally implied threats of death, bodily injury, sexual assault, kidnapping or any other statutory criminal act to the victim or any member of the victim's family or any person with whom the victim is acquainted. 34 CFR 668.46(a)(ii).

Stalking as Defined by Louisiana State Law

The intentional and repeated following or harassing of another person that would cause a reasonable person to feel alarmed or to suffer emotional distress. Stalking shall include but not be limited to the intentional and repeated uninvited presence of the perpetrator at another person's home, workplace, school, or any place which would cause a reasonable person to be alarmed, or to suffer emotional distress as a result of verbal or behaviorally implied threats of death, bodily injury, sexual assault, kidnapping, or any other statutory criminal act to himself or any member of his family or any person with whom he is acquainted. La. RS § 14:40.2(A) "Harassing" means the repeated pattern of verbal communications or nonverbal behavior without invitation which includes but is not limited to making telephone calls, transmitting electronic mail, sending messages via a third party, or sending letters or pictures. "Pattern of conduct" means a series of acts over a period of time, however short, evidencing an intent to inflict a continuity of emotional distress upon the person. Constitutionally protected activity is not included within the meaning of pattern of conduct. La. R.S. § 14:40.2(C).

Domestic Violence Definition in Clery Act

Violence, including but not limited to sexual or physical abuse or the threat of such abuse, committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner or any other person from whom the alleged victim is protected under federal or Louisiana law. Felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed:

• By a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim;
• By a person with whom the victim shares a child in common;
• By a person who is cohabitating with, or has cohabitated with, the victim as a spouse or intimate partner;
• By a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred; or
• By any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person's acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred.

Family Violence Definition in Louisiana State Law

Any assault, battery, or other physical abuse which occurs between family or household members, who reside together or who formerly resided together. La. R.S. § 46.2121.1(2)

Domestic Abuse Definition in Louisiana State Law

Includes but is not limited to physical or sexual abuse and any offense against the person as defined in the Criminal Code of Louisiana, except negligent injury and defamation, committed by one family or household member against another. La. R.S. 46:2132(3)

Dating Violence Definition in Clery Act

Violence, including but not limited to sexual or physical abuse or the threat of such abuse, committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the alleged victim. The existence of such a relationship will be determined based on a consideration of the length and type of relationship and the frequency of interaction.

Dating Violence Definition in Louisiana State Law

"Dating violence" includes but is not limited to physical or sexual abuse and any offense against the person as defined in the Criminal Code of Louisiana, except negligent injury and defamation, committed by one dating partner against the other. La. R.S. §46.2151(C) For purposes of this Section, "dating partner" means any person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim and where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors:

• The length of the relationship.
• The type of relationship.
• The frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship

Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature when i) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of a person's employment or education; ii) submission to or rejection of such conduct by a person is used as the basis for a decision affecting that person's employment or education; or iii) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a person's employment or education, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment or educational environment, and has no legitimate relationship to the subject matter of a course or academic research. Sexual harassment also includes non-sexual harassment or discrimination of a person because of the person's sex and/or gender, including harassment based on the person's nonconformity with gender stereotypes. For purposes of this Policy, the various forms of prohibited sexual harassment are referred to as "sexual misconduct."

Acts or attempted acts for the purpose of interfering with any report, investigation, or proceeding under this Policy, or as retribution or revenge against anyone who has reported Sexual Misconduct or Relationship Violence or who has participated (or is expected to participate) in any manner in an investigation, or proceeding under this Policy. Prohibited retaliatory acts include, but are not limited to, intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination. Title IX prohibits Retaliation. For purposes of this Policy, an attempt requires a substantial step towards committing a violation.

Consent to engage in sexual activity must exist from beginning to end of each instance of sexual activity. Consent is demonstrated through mutually understandable words and/or actions that clearly indicate a willingness to engage in a specific sexual activity. Silence alone, without actions evidencing permission, does not demonstrate consent. Consent must be knowing and voluntary. To give consent, a person must be of legal age. Assent does not constitute consent if obtained through coercion or from an individual whom the Alleged Offender knows or reasonably should know is incapacitated. The responsibility of obtaining consent rests with the person initiating sexual activity. Use of alcohol or drugs does not diminish one's responsibility to obtain consent. Consent to engage in sexual activity may be withdrawn by any person at any time. Once withdrawal of consent has been expressed, the sexual activity must cease. Consent is automatically withdrawn by a person who is no longer capable of giving consent. A current or previous consensual dating or sexual relationship between the persons involved does not itself imply consent or preclude a finding of responsibility.

An individual is considered to be incapacitated if, by reason of mental or physical condition, the individual is manifestly unable to make a knowing and deliberate choice to engage in sexual activity. Being drunk or intoxicated can lead to Incapacitation; however, someone who is drunk or intoxicated is not necessarily incapacitated, as incapacitation is a state beyond drunkenness or intoxication. Individuals who are asleep, unresponsive or unconscious are incapacitated. Other indicators that an individual may be incapacitated include, but are not limited to, inability to communicate coherently, inability to dress/undress without assistance, inability to walk without assistance, slurred speech, loss of coordination, vomiting, or inability to perform other physical or cognitive 5 tasks without assistance.

The use of express or implied threats, intimidation, or physical force which places an individual in fear of immediate harm or physical injury or causes a person to engage in unwelcome sexual activity. Coercion also includes administering a drug, intoxicant, or similar substance with the intent to impair that person's ability to consent prior to engaging in sexual activity.

All Bossier Parish Community College employees are designated as responsible employees, with the exception of those employees who are authorized or required by law to keep information confidential by virtue of their role. Responsible employees have a duty to report incidents of sexual violence or misconduct to the College's Title IX Coordinator or other designated College official.

Any sexual assault offense as defined in: La. R.S. 44:51 and any sexual abuse offense as defined in La. R.S. 14:403.

An individual whose report of sexual misconduct has not yet been investigated and validated.

An individual who, after all due investigation and/or adjudication, has been found to be the target of sexual misconduct

An individual against whom a sexual misconduct complaint is brought, which has not yet been validated through investigation and/or adjudication.

An individual found guilty of sexual misconduct.

The confidential advisor primarily serves to aid a student involved in a sexual misconduct complaint in the resolution process as a confidential resource. As suggested by the term "confidential advisor," confidential communications with the advisor will be kept confidential in all circumstances except where the institution or advisor may be required to disclose the communications under state and federal laws. For example, an institution may be compelled by law to disclose communications between the student and his/her confidential advisor if directed by the court in civil litigation. Each institution shall designate individuals who shall serve as confidential advisors. See current list of Confidential Advisors.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics (Clery Act) is a federal law which requires colleges that participate in federal financial aid programs to keep and disclose information about crime on, and near their respective campuses. Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) will adhere to all requirements of the Clery Act and Section 304 of the Violence against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA), which extends the Clery Act to include dating violence, domestic violence and stalking.

The Campus Safety and Annual Security Report is provided to the public for compliance with the federal Campus Security Act of 1990 and the Higher Education Amendments of 1992. This document contains policy statements and crime statistics for the College. Included in this report are crime statistics for 2015, 2016, and 2017. The crime categories within the report are mandated to be reported by the Jeanne Clery Act of 1990, also known as the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act. Also included are policies imperative to the safety and security of our campus community.

BPCC shares the public’s genuine concern about public safety in a college setting and offers services and preventative measures to improve the safety of the College community. Ultimately, each individual is responsible for his/her own personal safety by being aware of his/her surroundings and using good judgement.

Campus Safety and Annual Security Report

• MOU between BPCC, BCPD, DA and BSO