Title IX & Sexual Misconduct Response

About Misconduct

Dean College prohibits sexual misconduct in any form. Any form of violence, intimidation, abuse, exploitation or harassment based on sex, sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy or related conditions is contrary to the ideals of Dean and may jeopardize a community member's ability to learn, work or otherwise participate in the life of the College.

Dean College strongly encourages all members of the community to take action, seek support and report incidents of sexual misconduct. If the College becomes aware of alleged sexual misconduct that impacts one or more members of the College community, the College will investigate the matter and, where misconduct is found to have occurred, it will take action to end the behavior, eliminate any hostile environment, remedy its effects and prevent its recurrence. The College will do so whether the perpetrator of the misconduct is a student, employee, guest, vendor or other third party.

For purposes of investigating and adjudicating allegations of misconduct, Sexual Misconduct has two categories:

Title IX Policy Violations
Non-Title IX Policy Violations

The conduct that constitutes a policy violation is generally the same in both categories. What typically distinguishes a Title IX matter from a non-Title IX matter is the context in which the conduct occurs:

Title IX applies to sexual misconduct that occurs “under the College’s education program or activity in the United States.” This includes conduct occurring on property owned or controlled by the College, property owned or controlled by a college-recognized student organization; conduct that is subject to the College’s disciplinary authority; and any conduct occurring outside the United States if it contributes to a hostile environment in the College’s education program or activity.
A non-Title IX policy violation is sexual misconduct occurring outside the context of Title IX.

For conduct occurring on or after August 1, 2024, the process by which the College will address the reported misconduct is the same for Title IX and Non-Title IX policy violations and is set forth below. Different procedures may apply to conduct occurring before August 1, 2024. Complete process details and contact information for supporting staff may be found on this page.

All students, staff and faculty at Dean College are responsible for adhering to the College’s policy on Sexual Misconduct.

The Title IX Coordinator will oversee the College’s response to alleged Sexual Misconduct Violations (Title IX and Non-Title IX) and ensure that appropriate resources are available to students and employees involved.

If a Title IX Sexual Misconduct Investigation occurs and the student is also charged with a Non-Title IX policy violations arising from the same incident, the charges will be adjudicated together in accordance with the Title IX procedures.

The College’s Title IX Coordinator is Dave Drucker, Dean of Students. The Title IX Coordinator oversees Title IX compliance, policies, procedures and training for the Dean College community.

There are three Deputy Title IX Coordinators at the College. Deputy Title IX Coordinators oversee sexual harassment compliance, training, policies and procedures and resources available to the populations they serve. The Title IX Coordinator oversees the work of the Deputy Title IX Coordinators.

Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Students
Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Athletics, Megan Gutierrez
Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Faculty/Staff, Andrea Adams

The Assistant Vice President of Human Resources or his/her designee will investigate all incidents in which staff, faculty member(s) are accused of sexual harassment. Employees who commit sexual harassment are subject to the full range of sanctions available under the College's employment policies, up to and including termination of employment.

A person designated by the Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Students will investigate all incidents in which students are accused of Sexual Misconduct. Students who commit Sexual Misconduct are subject to the full range of sanctions available under the student code of conduct, up to and including dismissal.

A person designated by the Title IX Coordinator will investigate all incidents in which the person accused of Sexual Harassment is a guest, vendor or other third party. Third parties who engage in Sexual Harassment are subject to a range of sanctions that may include a No Trespass Order from the College and /or termination of any relationship with the College.

Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures Documents

Click the documents below to view the full Title IX Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures documents.

2024 - 2025 Title IX Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures

2023 - 2024 Title IX Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures

2022 - 2023 Title IX Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures

Education and Resources

Click on the below boxes to learn more about sexual violence prevention and education at Dean College.

About Us Learn more about the Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Education.

In 2017, and again in 2021, Dean College was awarded the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women [OVW] Grant to Reduce Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on campus. Through the Campus Programs Grant the college can further design and implement sustainable prevention, intervention, and response efforts for our campus community.

The Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Education offers bystander education and proactive including Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, workshops for students, staff and faculty, effective intervention and resources for survivors and victims of gender-based violence.
Reporting Options Learn more about your reporting options on and off campus.
Support and Resources There is no one way to heal. Learn more about your support options.
Offer Support for Families, Loved Ones and Friends of a Survivor Learn more information on how to support a friend, family member, or loved one who has experienced dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Strategies to Offer Support

For more information on how to support a friend or loved one who has experienced gender-based violence please contact our Survivor Advocate or Advocacy Specialist.

Important Terminology

The following information contains definitions and information outlining the warning signs of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking, we are here to help you – please contact the Title IX office or a confidential resource on campus that can be found on the support and resources page.

Sexual Assault / Rape

Rape and Sexual Assault is defined as sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse with a person, by force and against their will, or by threat of bodily injury. Rape/sexual assault is defined by three elements:penetration including anal, oral, or vaginal penetration with a body part or any object; forced oral sex constitutes rape; force or threat of force including verbal threats, physical restraint, drugging someone, or the use or presence of weapons against the will of the person or without consent, generally including romantic relationships. Mass. Gen. Laws. Ann. ch. 265, § 22.

Dating and Domestic Violence

can be defined as a pattern of behavior by an intimate partner in dating, sexual, domestic, or marital relationships that may include economic, physical, sexual, spiritual or emotional abuse to gain and maintain power and control over the other partner. Dating and domestic violence occurs in all types of relationships and between people of all genders.
- "pattern of behavior" may include verbal, emotional, or physical behavior. This behavior typically includes repeated words, and/or actions and inactions to intimidate, demean, or assert control.
- Physical Abuse
  - slapping, punching, kicking, use of weapons, throwing objects, and/or denial of physical needs (food, sleep, medical attention) to control or scare partner.
- Sexual Abuse
  - sexual harassment, rape, or sexual assault [see definition], coercion, use of force [including threats and/or weapons], degrading sexual comments aimed toward partner, and/or any touch that is unwanted.
- Economic Abuse
  - control of assets, family finances, bank accounts or car, limited monthly monetary allowance, puts bills in partner's name then runs up charges, refusal of access to money, food, clothing and other basic needs, preventing from having/keeping a job, or interfering with work or education.
- Emotional Abuse
  - Emotional abuse may be difficult to define and every relationship is different. Emotional abuse may include, but is not limited to: gaslighting manipulation using privilege [to cut access to resources, define roles of relationships] volatility blaming, denying, minimizing, or humiliation blackmailing or guilting isolation threats of future abuse intimidation partner threatens self-harm if relationship ends jealousy to justify actions preventing or denying the practice of religious or spiritual beliefs
- Do you...?
  - Feel like you're "walking on eggshells" around your partner?
  - Feel worse about yourself now than when you started the relationship?
  - Feel like you can't choose when to see your family, friends, or loved ones?
  - Make excuses for your partner's volatile behavior towards you?
  - Feel like your partner makes all the decisions in the relationship that impact you negatively?
  - Feel like your partner has sudden mood swings or blames you for their feelings, behavior, or anger?
Stalking

engaging in a willful and malicious course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to (a) fear for their safety or the safety of others or (b) suffer substantial emotional distress. Stalking is defined as a crime in all 50 states.
- “Course of Conduct” includes, but is not limited to, behaviors by a person directly, indirectly, or through a third party.:
  - follows
  - monitors
  - observes
  - surveils
  - threatens
  - communicates
  - interferes with another person's property
- “Reasonable Person”: an average/typical person who under the same circumstances would react with similar fear or distress.
- Cyber-stalking can be defined as threatening behavior or unwanted advances directed at a person using the Internet and other forms of online and electronic communications.
  - Cyber-stalking can take many forms including but not limited to electronic media internet social media or networks blogs phones, texts, calls.
*Please note that these definitions are contained within college policies and are not the same standard applied in law enforcement proceedings.
Coordinated Community Response Team Learn more about our team committed to addressing and ending gender-based violence.
Coordinated Community Response Team:

Through the OVW Grant, The Coordinated Community Response Team [CCRT] cultivates a group of campus and community members who share a trauma-informed, power-conscious, and inclusive approach to ending gender-based violence. We aim to create dynamic, proactive prevention and effective intervention strategies as well as campus resources to promote safety and well-being for survivors and in our campus community.

Our Mission:

The Coordinated Community Response Team [CCRT] cultivates a group of campus and community members who share a trauma-informed, power-conscious, and inclusive approach to ending gender-based violence. We aim to create dynamic, proactive prevention and effective intervention strategies to promote safety and well-being for survivors and in our campus community.

Our Members:

Members of the Coordinated Community Response Team:
- Ken Corkran, Assistant Vice President of Law Enforcement and Risk Management
- Shawn Tremblay, Director of Student Conduct / Deputy Title IX
External Members of the Coordinated Community Response Team:
- Franklin Police Department
- Wayside Trauma Intervention Services
- New Hope Inc.
Gender-based violence can be perpetrated by people of all genders and affect people of all genders and sexuality.

To Learn More

For more information about CCRT initiatives, contact the Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Education: 508-541-1585
Get Involved: Prevention and Education Explore ways to take part in prevention and intervention efforts, educational workshops, and student-centered programming on campus. Everyone is welcome here.