Education and Prevention

Office of Title IX and Civil Rights Compliance

Creating and maintaining a culture of sexual and relationship respect.

College of the Atlantic is dedicated to continually offering educational opportunities in consent, healthy relationships, laws and policy, the root causes of violence, as well as what all members of the community can do to prevent harm from occurring.

Understand what our campus culture of sexual and relationship respect means by exploring COA’s Sexual Misconduct Policy and the 2020 Policy for Addressing Formal Complaints Under the Title IX Regulations, which includes sexual or gender-based harassment, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation. Also prohibited are relationship violence, stalking, and retaliation. Every member of the COA community is urged and expected to read this policy for full definitions and prohibited behaviors.

I want to learn more about:

Consent

Affirmative consent is one of the most important tools in the prevention of sexual misconduct. But what does consent look like? Learn more here.

Stalking

What is considered stalking and how can I best respond to it? Learn more here. 

Training for community members

On-campus trainings are offered to develop and broaden our community member’s knowledge in topics connected with sexual and relationship abuse and violence. Learn more here.

Navigating relationships

What are the signs of healthy and abusive relationships? How do I end an unhealthy relationship or help to support a friend? Learn more here. 

Preventing harm

How can I intervene in a potentially harmful situation, while also keeping myself safe? Learn more here.

Clery Act and reporting

COA is required to issue an Annual Security Report and Fire Safety Report that complies with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act. Learn more here.

Key Terms

Sexual misconduct includes but is not limited to the following: Sexual Harassment, Sexual Exploitation, Sex- or Gender-Based Stalking, Intimate Partner Violence (Dating Violence and Domestic Violence), Sexual Assault—Unwanted Sexual Contact, Sexual Assault—Rape (or the attempt to commit such actions).

Sexual harassment is unwelcome gender-based verbal or physical conduct that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it unreasonably interferes with, denies or limits someone’s ability to participate in or benefit from COA’s educational program, work environment, and/or activities. It is based on the creation of a hostile environment, retaliation or quid pro quo.

Relationship violence is an umbrella term for domestic violence, intimate partner violence, dating violence, or relationship abuse. Relationship violence is a pattern of abusive and coercive behaviors used to maintain power and control over a former or current intimate partner, family member, or loved one.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

TITLE IX OFFICE CONTACT INFO

Puranjot Kaur
Title IX Coordinator & HR Support
Deering Common, Third Floor
(207) 288-5015, ext. 5614