There is an unprecedented national effort to address alarming rates of sexual assault on college campuses. In fact, President Obama recently established a “White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault.” This taskforce will be charged with sharing best practices, and increasing transparency, enforcement, public awareness, and interagency coordination to prevent violence and support survivors. The statistics around sexual assault in this country are alarming. A report released by the White House Council on Women and Girls titled “Rape and Sexual Assault: A Renewed Call to Action” reveals that nearly one in five women, and one in 71 men have experienced rape or attempted rape in their lifetimes.
Curtis Powell
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities. Under Title IX, discrimination on the basis of sex can include sexual harassment or sexual violence, such as rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, and sexual coercion.
Rensselaer complies with all federal, state, and local non-discrimination laws and is committed to providing a working, living, and learning environment free from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, disability, military status, veteran status, genetic information, genetic predisposition, domestic violence victim status, or any other basis prohibited by law.
In addressing the topics of sexual harassment and sexual violence on campus, Rensselaer will revise the Student Sexual Misconduct and Violence policy; respond promptly and effectively to incidents of sexual misconduct and harassment; appoint a Title IX Liaison for each portfolio; and educate faculty, staff and student of the types of discrimination that are covered under Title IX and procedures for filing a complaint.
In order to provide employees with an interactive opportunity to learn more about the Rensselaer culture, resources, and processes, we have created the online “Rensselaer New Employee Virtual Toolkit.”
While Rensselaer takes great care to demonstrate fair employment practices toward all of its employees, we also expect all employees to adhere to basic, established standards of conduct and performance that will enable all members of the community to work together in achieving the objectives of the Institute.
In order to provide employees with an interactive opportunity to learn more about Rensselaer’s culture, resources, and processes, we have created a system that allows individuals to seek out pertinent information when and where they need it. “Rensselaer’s New Employee Virtual Toolkit” places hundreds of informational opportunities at your fingertips.
Rensselaer faculty, staff, and students members may also refer to the Rensselaer Faculty Handbook, the Rensselaer Employee Handbook, and the Rensselaer Student Handbook for more information regarding specific rights and responsibilities.
Curtis Powell, SPHR
Vice President for Human Resources
