Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking: What You Should Know
Collin College strives to maintain a healthy and safe environment where all members of its campus community are treated with dignity and respect. Collin College prohibits all forms of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, as those terms are defined for purposes of the Clery Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), as amended May 19, 2020, and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
Definitions
Collin College's definitions of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault,
and stalking (i.e., prohibited conduct) can be found here.
In some instances dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking occur because people do not have a good understanding of consent; therefore, it is important to know what constitutes consent to sexual activity. Collin College's and the State of Texas's definitions of consent to sexual activity can be found here.
Medical exams can address physical needs or trauma and assess for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or pregnancy. If you request it or if you have already reported the incident to a law enforcement official, a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) or doctor will conduct both a forensic and medical exam and collect evidence. Having a forensic exam conducted does not require you to file a police report, proceed through the criminal justice process, or submit a report to Collin College, but it will preserve evidence in the event you decide to do so at a later time. Victims are encouraged to file a police report, proceed through the criminal justice process, or submit a report to Collin College if they are comfortable doing so.
Note: Victims have the right not to report a crime or to decline to notify authorities, including law enforcement, if they so choose.
For evidence collection to take place, it is best for an exam to occur within five (5) days (i.e., 120 hours) of the incident. It is advised that you do not shower, bathe, douche, eat, drink, wash your hands, change your clothes, brush your teeth, smoke, use the toilet, clean the location where the incident occurred, or do anything that may interfere with the collection of evidence. If you do change your clothes, save the clothing you were wearing and be sure to take it with you to the hospital in a paper (not plastic) bag. It is also important to share as much information as you can remember with medical personnel. Learn more about the sexual assault exam process here.Collin County has a mobile SANE team. If you go to any hospital in Collin County, the staff can contact the mobile SANE team, and they will come to that hospital to assist you.
You can receive attention at any medical facility; however, the local hospitals listed
here have specially-trained staff to assist survivors of dating violence, domestic violence,
sexual assault, and stalking. Victims 17 years of age and youner must be seen at a
hospital with an approved colposcope. These hospitals are noted with an asterisk (*)
in the list. Collin College does not provide transportation to any of these hospitals.
Consider Reporting the Incident to the Appropriate Law Enforcement Official
For immediate notification to local law enforcement, dial 911. To report an incident that occurred on a Collin College campus or property owned
or controlled by Collin College to the Collin College Police Department, call 972.578.5555 or dial extension 5555 from any campus phone. Contact information for local law enforcement agencies can
be found here.
If you need assistance with reporting to law enforcement, you can ask the medical
professionals at the hospital if you received medical attention. Additionally, if
you request assistance with reporting to law enforcement, a Collin College official
will help you with the process.
Note: Victims have the right not to report a crime or to decline to notify authorities, including law enforcement, if they so choose.
Personal and group counseling sessions are offered free of charge to all currently enrolled Collin College students. Counseling sessions are confidential and conducted by licensed mental health professionals. Additionally, the Counseling Services Office can provide appropriate referrals to on- and off-campus resources for Collin College students and employees. For more information, contact the Counseling Services Office at 972.881.5126 or personalcounseling@collin.edu.
Collin College provides telehealth services free of charge to currently enrolled Collin College students, adjunct faculty, and part-time staff through TimelyCare. Telehealth sessions are confidential and conducted by licensed physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and mental health providers. This benefit is available 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week; and there is no charge for qualified individuals to utilize TimelyCare’s services. For more information, contact TimelyCare at 833.484.6359, email help@timely.md, or go to www.timelycare.com/collincollege.
Collin College employees can contact the Human Resources Department for advocacy and support. The Human Resources Department can assist employees with appropriate accommodations and reporting to law enforcement. Additionally, the Human Resources Department provides appropriate referrals to off-campus resources. For more information, contact the Human Resources Department at 972.758.3856 or hr@collin.edu.
Collin College provides confidential and voluntary assistance to full-time employees and their household members through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This benefit is available 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week, and provides up to eight (8) sessions per service type per year. There is no charge for full-time employees and their household members to use the EAP’s services. For more information, contact the EAP at 866.327.2400, email eap@deeroaks.com, or go to www.deeroakseap.com/.
If applicable, keep any emails, harassing letters, online postings, photos, texts, voicemails, etc., as evidence.
- A forensic sexual assault examination completed within five (5) days (i.e., 120 hours) of the incident;
- Any clothing, sheets, towels, or other materials containing bodily fluids. These items should be stored in cardboard boxes or paper bags, not plastic;
- Electronic exchanges to the extent that they can be captured or preserved (e.g., emails; text messages; social media posts on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter);
- Gifts and notes;
- Photographs, including photographs stored on smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices;
- Records of phone calls and voicemail messages; and
- Any other physical, documentary, or electronic data that might be helpful or relevant in an investigation.
Risk Reduction Strategies
Risk reduction consists of options designed to decrease perpetration and bystander
inaction, increase empowerment in an effort to promote safety, and help individuals
and communities address conditions that facilitate violence. Collin College’s primary
prevention and awareness programs and ongoing prevention and awareness programs include
information on risk reduction strategies that is appropriate for the needs of the
Collin College community and does not encourage victim blaming. Learn more about risk
reduction strategies here.
Note: Reporting to any individual other than the appropriate Title IX coordinator or deputy Title IX coordinator does not constitute filing a formal complaint for the purposes of initiating the Title IX complaint resolution process. To initiate the Title IX complaint resolution process, the complainant must submit a formal complaint to the appropriate Title IX coordinator or deputy Title IX coordinator listed below. Additionally, to initiate the Title IX complaint resolution process, complainants cannot remain anonymous.
The following persons are designated as Collin College's Title IX coordinators and deputy Title IX coordinators:
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Title IX Coordinator for Students
Terrence Brennan
District Dean of Students
Collin Higher Education Center
3452 Spur 399
Suite 457
McKinney, TX 75069
Phone: 972.881.5734
Email: tbrennan@collin.edu
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Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Students
Amy Throop
Associate Dean of Title IX Compliance
Collin Higher Education Center
3452 Spur 399
Suite 128
McKinney, TX 75069
Phone: 972.599.3126
Email: athroop@collin.edu
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Title IX Coordinator for Employees
Floyd Nickerson
Chief Employee Success Officer
Collin Higher Education Center
3452 Spur 399
Suite 400
McKinney, TX 75069
Phone: 972.599.3159
Email: fnickerson@collin.edu
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Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Employees
Tonya Jacobson
Manager Employee Relations
Collin Higher Education Center
3452 Spur 399
Suite 339
McKinney, TX 75069
Phone: 972.758.3856
Email: tjacobson@collin.edu
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Collin College must provide certain options and interim action if the victim requests them and they are reasonably available, regardless of whether a victim chooses to report to local law enforcement, the Collin College Police Department, or the Title IX complaint resolution process. Learn more about available options and interim action here.
If you have a protective order against a person, notify the Collin College Police Department at 972.578.5555 as soon as possible.
Privacy and Confidentiality
To the greatest extent possible, Collin College will respect the privacy of the complainant,
respondent, and witnesses. Limited disclosures may be necessary in order to conduct
a thorough investigation and comply with applicable law. Collin College will complete
publicly available recordkeeping, including Clery Act reporting and disclosures, without inclusion of personally identifying information
about the complainant. Additionally, Collin College must maintain as confidential
any accommodations or supportive measures provided to the complainant or respondent,
to the extent that maintaining such confidentiality will not impair Collin College’s
ability to provide the accommodations or supportive measures.
Collin College recognizes incidents of crime can be difficult to discuss, and victims and witnesses may want confidentiality in addition to support. Victims and witnesses of a crime who do not want to pursue action within the Collin College system or the criminal justice system may still want to consider making a voluntary confidential report. The Collin College Police Department can file a report on the details of the incident without revealing the victim’s or witness’s identity.
The purpose of a voluntary confidential report is to comply with the victim’s or witness’s wish to keep the matter confidential while taking steps to ensure the future safety of the victim, witness, and others. With such information, Collin College can keep an accurate record of the number of incidents involving students, employees, and visitors; determine where there is a pattern of crime with regard to a particular location, method, or assailant; and alert the campus community to potential danger. Reports filed in this manner are counted and disclosed in Collin College’s annual Clery Act crime statistics.
To submit a voluntary confidential report, victims and witnesses can contact the Collin College Police Department Communications Center 24 hours a day by:
- Dialing extension 5555 from any Collin College system phone;
- Dialing 972.578.5555 from any phone outside the Collin College system;
- Pressing the “Emergency” button located on any Collin College system phone;
- Pressing the “Emergency” button on any of the Blue Light phones located in the parking garages and parking lots at the Frisco Campus, McKinney Campus, and Plano Campus; or
- Utilizing the Collin Mobile App “Call Campus Police” function under the “Emergency” menu.
The victim or witness must inform the dispatcher they would like their name and any identifying information to remain confidential at the start of the report. The victim or witness should provide as much detail as possible, and the dispatcher will take the report without including the victim’s or witness’s name or identifying information.
If the victim or witness would prefer to submit a voluntary confidential report in person, they may do so at any of the following Collin College Police Department office locations:
- Celina Campus: Room 129
- Collin Higher Education Center: Room 134
- Courtyard Center: Room 125
- Farmersville Campus: Room 103
- Frisco Campus: Room LH-179
- McKinney Campus: Room C-121
- Plano Campus: Suite K-119
- Technical Campus: Room C-010
- Wylie Campus: Room B-139
When submitting a voluntary confidential report in person, the victim or witness must inform the Collin College Police Department officer they would like their name and any identifying information to remain confidential at the start of the report. The victim or witness should provide as much detail as possible, and the Collin College Police Department officer will take the report without including the victim’s or witness’s name or identifying information.
Additionally, victims and witnesses have the right not to report a crime if they so choose.
Anonymous Reports of Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, and StalkingTo report dating violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking anonymously or using a pseudonym, victims can submit the online Title IX Formal Complaint Form or contact the Collin College Police Department Communications Center 24 hours a day by:
- Dialing extension 5555 from any Collin College system phone;
- Dialing 972.578.5555 from any phone outside the Collin College system;
- Pressing the “Emergency” button located on any Collin College system phone;
- Pressing the “Emergency” button on any of the Blue Light phones located in the parking garages and parking lots at the Frisco Campus, McKinney Campus, and Plano Campus; or
- Utilizing the Collin Mobile App “Call Campus Police” function under the “Emergency” menu.
The victim should inform the dispatcher they would like to remain anonymous or use a pseudonym at the start of the report. The victim should provide as much detail as possible, and the dispatcher will take the report using a pseudonym in place of the victim’s name.
To submit an in-person report of dating violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking anonymously or using a pseudonym, victims can go to any of the following Collin College Police Department office locations:
- Celina Campus: Room 129
- Collin Higher Education Center: Room 134
- Courtyard Center: Room 125
- Farmersville Campus: Room 103
- Frisco Campus: Room LH-179
- McKinney Campus: Room C-121
- Plano Campus: Suite K-119
- Technical Campus: Room C-010
- Wylie Campus: Room B-139
When submitting an anonymous report of dating violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking in person, the victim should inform the Collin College Police Department officer they would like to remain anonymous or use a pseudonym at the start of the report. The victim should provide as much detail as possible, and the Collin College Police Department officer will take the report using a pseudonym in place of the victim’s name.
If a victim of dating violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking files a report and later determines they would like to remain anonymous or use a pseudonym, the Collin College Police Department can assign a pseudonym to the victim. The victim must inform the Collin College Police Department officer assigned to investigate the case over the phone or in writing that they would like a pseudonym assigned to them. The pseudonym will be used in place of the victim’s name to identify them on any further documentation that could become public information.
Collin College's complaint resolution procedures apply equally to all Collin College students and employees who are participating in or attempting to participate in Collin College’s education program or activity. Additionally, these complaint resolution procedures only apply to prohibited conduct that impacted a person in the United States.
The Title IX Formal Resolution Process Flowchart, available here, provides an overview of Collin College’s Title IX formal resolution process. For more information and specific procedures, see the current Title IX Complaint Resolution Process Handbook for Collin College Students and Employees available here.
The Title IX Informal Resolution Process Flowchart, available here, provides an overview of Collin College’s Title IX informal resolution process. For more information and specific procedures, see the current Title IX Complaint Resolution Process Handbook for Collin College Students and Employees available here.
- Applicable laws, regulations, and federal regulatory guidance, including updates to and new local, state, and federal regulations;
- The scope of Collin College’s equal opportunity, civil rights, and sexual harassment policies;
- The definitions of dating violence, domestic violence, gender-based harassment, retaliation, sex discrimination, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and stalking;
- Collin College’s and the State of Texas’ definitions of consent to sexual activity;
- Treating complainants and respondents with fairness and equity while upholding their due process rights;
- Recognizing and preventing implicit bias;
- Avoiding actual and perceived conflicts of interest;
- Impartiality and objectivity;
- Disparate treatment and its impact;
- Reporting, confidentiality, and privacy requirements;
- Providing appropriate advocacy and interim measures while maintaining confidentiality;
- Basic procedural rules for conducting an investigation;
- Relevant evidence and how it should be used during an investigation;
- Proper techniques for questioning complainants, respondents, and witnesses;
- Conducting thorough, reliable, impartial, and trauma-informed investigations, hearings, and informal resolution processes that protect the safety of complainants and respondents while promoting accountability;
- Determining relevance of questions, weighing evidence, and assessing credibility;
- Creating an informal resolution agreement that is non-punitive and contains acceptable terms for both the complainant and respondent;
- Creating an investigation report that fairly summarizes relevant evidence;
- Use of technology during the Live Hearing phase of the Title IX Formal Resolution Process;
- Rendering findings and generating clear, concise, and evidence-based rationales;
- Determining appropriate disciplinary sanctions to be imposed on respondents;
- Implementing appropriate and situation-specific remedies for complainants; and
- Conducting appeals.
Collin College provides support (e.g., answering questions, appropriate assistance, resources, and referrals) to both the complainant and respondent throughout the Title IX complaint resolution process. Additionally, Collin College assists each complainant and respondent with understanding their rights and responsibilities related to the informal resolution process, formal investigation and resolution process, evidence-gathering, findings of responsibility, appeals, and resolution.
- The results of any disciplinary proceeding that arises from an allegation of prohibited conduct as defined by this policy;
- Collin College’s procedures for the victim and the respondent to appeal the results of the disciplinary proceeding;
- Any change to the results (e.g., through the appeal process); and
- When such results become final.
In accordance with Title 18, § 16, United States Code, the term “crime of violence” means:
- An offense that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another, or
- Any other offense that is a felony and that, by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense.
For the purpose of this policy, Collin College defines “the results of any disciplinary proceeding” as the institution’s final determination with respect to the alleged crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and any sanction that is imposed on the accused through the student disciplinary and appeal process, the employee disciplinary and appeal process, or the student and employee Title IX complaint resolution process.
Amnesty Policy for Collin College Students
In accordance with the Texas Higher Education Code Section 51.284, Collin College will give amnesty to (i.e., not take disciplinary action against)
a student who reports, in good faith, that the student was the victim of or a witness
to an incident of prohibited conduct as defined by this policy. This amnesty policy
applies regardless of the location at which the incident occurred or the outcome of
Collin College’s disciplinary process regarding the incident, if any. This amnesty
policy does not apply to a student who reports their own commission or assistance
in the commission of prohibited conduct as defined by this policy.
Collin College provides primary prevention and awareness programs on dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other relevant topics to all incoming students, faculty, and staff. All of these programs include, but are not limited to, information on the following topics:
- Collin College’s and the State of Texas’ definitions of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and consent to sexual activity.
- Personal safety.
- Safe and positive options for bystander intervention.
- The importance of preserving evidence.
- Risk reduction strategies.
- Reporting options.
Ongoing Prevention and Awareness Programs
Collin College also provides ongoing prevention and awareness programs on dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other relevant topics to all new and returning students, faculty, and staff members throughout each academic year. All of these programs include, but are not limited to, information on the following topics:
- Collin College’s and the State of Texas’ definitions of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and consent to sexual activity.
- Personal safety.
- Safe and positive options for bystander intervention.
- The importance of preserving evidence.
- Risk reduction strategies.
- Reporting options.
Federal Regulations
The federal government has enacted various statutes to ensure students' rights are upheld and colleges are in compliance with federal laws. These statutes include:
- Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (Campus SaVE Act)
- Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act)
- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), as amended May 19, 2020
- Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
Collin College Policies
Collin College has enacted various policies to ensure students' rights are upheld
and the college is in compliance with the federal laws listed above. These policies
include: