Title IX Overview

Although Title IX is best known for breaking down barriers in sports for women and girls, it also prohibits all discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex, including all sexual violence.

Tompkins Cortland Community College’s policy against discrimination and harassment includes Title IX.

Sexual discrimination is any behavior that unfairly treats people differently due to their sex or gender.  Examples include:

Making academic or employment decisions on the basis of gender

Having different athletic or student leadership opportunities on the basis of gender

All forms of sexual harassment and sexual violence are sexual discrimination. Examples of sexual harassment include:

  • Any uninvited or unwelcome physical contact, touching, petting, pinching, persistent and purposeful brushing up against another individual’s body, etc.
  • Sexual assault, including rape
  • Any suggestion to an individual that sexual favors or relationships will result in a favorable grade, a promotion, or other beneficial academic or employment opportunity.
  • Any suggestion to an individual that refusal to provide sexual favors or relationships will result in a poor grade, demotion, discipline, etc.
  • Sexual innuendos, sexually suggestive comments, offensive language, sexually oriented kidding or teasing,
  • Any behavior of a sexual nature that by purpose or effect creates an intimidating, hostile or abusive work or academic environment.

Retaliation – No member of the College community shall retaliate, intimidate, threaten, coerce, or otherwise discriminate against a person who files a complaint, serves as a witness, or offers assistance or participates in a dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking case in any manner.  Participants who experience retaliation should report the incident to a Title IX Coordinator, Campus Police, or the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.

Tompkins Cortland's Athletics Department adheres to all of the provisions of Title IX.

Campus Climate Survey

Consistent with New York State Education Law 129-B and policies of  The State University of New York, Tompkins Cortland Community College participated in the 2023 University-wide Biennial SUNY Uniform Campus Climate Survey. The Survey gathered information about student and employee experience with sexual and interpersonal violence and knowledge of policies and resources.  

129 students and 95 employees completed the survey, for response rates of 9% and 24%, respectively. 

In the survey 30 percent of female students and 0 percent of male students reported that they were subject to sexual harassment in the prior year; no students in the survey identified as gender non-binary or transgender. No students reported that they were subject to sexual assault in the prior year. 92 percent of students indicated familiarity with affirmative consent, 83 percent indicated that they knew how to report, and 73 percent could identify the Title IX coordinator.

Tompkins Cortland Community College, working with SUNY and community colleagues (including students, faculty, and staff), will use this data to improve response to violence, develop prevention programs, and will continue to study the issue. More information about the Survey is available on the SUNY Website

Invitation for Feedback

Are you a student, faculty or staff member, or visitor who believes you have been a victim of sexual misconduct? Sexual misconduct includes but is not limited to: sexual harassment, sex discrimination, sexual assault or intimidation. Whether or not you reported the incident to the college, we'd like your opinion on how we can improve the effectiveness of our campus policies and procedures that address sexual misconduct, stalking, domestic violence or dating violence. Please share your suggestions and/or feedback by contacting a Title IX Coordinator, or by email to TitleIX@tompkinscortland.edu.

  • Darese Doskal, Interim Dean of Student Affairs, Senior Title IX Coordinator, Room 248, 607.844.8222, Ext. 6591
  • John Geer, Vice President for Human Resources, Affirmative Action Officer, Senior Title IX Coordinator, Room 219, 607.844.8222, Ext. 4440
  • Carolyn Boone, Chief Policy & Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator, room 229, 607.844.8222, Ext. 4283
  • Seth Thompson, Vice President of Student Affairs, Senior Diversity Officer, Title IX Coordinator, Room 248, 607.844.8222, Ext. 4358