Support, help and resources

For survivors, victims and persons accused of sexual violence or other forms of sex discrimination and sex-based harassment.

Support is available when you need it.

ɬ is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment — as well as a range of benefits, programs and activities — that are free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation. To ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, and to affirm our commitment to promoting the goals of fairness and equity in all educational programs and activities, the College has developed internal policies and procedures to provide a prompt, fair and impartial process for those involved in an allegation of sex discrimination, sex-based harassment or retaliation.

It does not matter when the incident occurred.

The trauma caused by sex discrimination or sex-based harassment or the allegations of these incidents can have far-reaching and ongoing effects on a person’s academic, work and social life. Students and employees of and visitors to ɬ who have experienced sex discrimination or sex-based harassment at any point during their time here can reach out to the Title IX Coordinator.

It does not matter where the incident occurred.

The College will respond to all reports of sex discrimination or sex-based harassment. This includes reports of incidents that occurred on the College grounds and those that occurred off-campus and involved the conduct of faculty, staff or students while engaged in College-related programs or activities.

It does not matter who engaged in the prohibited conduct.

The College understands that sex discrimination or sex-based harassment can occur in all types of relationships and are acts of power and control. All students and employees — regardless of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, citizenship or genetic information — are encouraged to report instances of sex discrimination or sex-based harassment. College representatives will meet with all individuals involved, explain reporting options, offer support resources and — if the reporting individual wishes — help them develop a plan.

You do not need to make a complaint to seek services.

For those who wish to access support services and resources without initiating a resolution or criminal process, the College provides options for confidential and anonymous reporting. We have two confidential reporting locations: Health Services and Counseling Service. You can also make anonymous reports online at https://mtholyoke.edu/go/ReportIncident.

It is OK to be unsure.

It can take time to process an incident and decide which support services you need, whom you want to inform and whether you wish to make an official complaint.

To preserve your ability to use either the campus resolution process or start criminal proceedings, the College encourages you to keep any evidence related to the event, including forensic evidence collected by a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE), text messages, voicemails and photos.

Prohibited contact - a blue hand in a stop position in the center of a gray circle

The following behaviors are prohibited under the College’s Sex Discrimination and Sex- Based Harassment Policy:

  • Sex discrimination.
  • Sex-based harassment.
  • Sexual assault.
  • Relationship violence.
  • Retaliation.
  • Peer retaliation.
  • Sexual misconduct.
  • Stalking.

For detailed descriptions and a complete list of prohibited behaviors, see the full policy at mtholyoke.edu/sexdiscrimination.

Confidential - a file and a lock in white in the center of a yellow circle

In an effort to fulfill the security reporting requirements of the Clery Act, the offices below, which serve as confidential reporting locations, provide anonymous data to ɬ’s Title IX Coordinator. These offices will never reveal any identifiable information to the Title IX Coordinator without the written consent of the individual.

Counseling Service

413-538-2037

For urgent mental health needs

24/7 crisis line: 413-538-2037

A clinician can:

  • Offer crisis intervention and brief therapy to assist students in recovering from trauma.
  • Provide medication to help with sleep or curb anxiety symptoms as needed.
  • Provide a referral for longer term or specialty care.

Employee Assistance Program

This service provides 24-hour free support services for all ɬ employees.

Visit

(To create an account, use the code “mhc.”)

Health Services

413-538-2121

A medical provider can:

  • Connect a student with a SANE program for forensic evidence collection and medical care, even if a decision regarding prosecution has not been made.
  • Share on- and off-campus support resources.
  • Provide confidential on-campus medical care related to physical or sexual assault when medically appropriate, including:
    • Evaluation and care of injuries.
    • Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections.
    • Provision of emergency contraception — if within 120 hours of the assault.
    • Prescription of HIV prevention medication — if within 72 hours of exposure.
    • Evaluation for substances used in drug-facilitated sexual assault.
    • Assistance with managing associated sleep difficulty or anxiety.

The College strongly recommends prompt reporting of any conduct that may violate our Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment Policy. Individuals may report prohibited conduct to local law enforcement, the College or both. There is no statute of limitations on reporting; regardless of when the incident occurred, individuals are encouraged to make a report and seek any necessary help from campus or community services.

Reporting to the college - a three column building in the center of a blue circle

All members of the ɬ community are encouraged to immediately report potential violations of our Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment Policy to the Title IX Coordinator.

By meeting with the Title IX Coordinator, you can:

  • Learn about your options for filing a report with the College, law enforcement or another institution, including your rights under each process.
  • Discuss your immediate safety and medical needs and evidence preservation as required.
  • Discuss any interim measures you might need and ask any questions you might have before choosing to disclose information or file a complaint.

Contact the Title IX Coordinator:

Shannon Lynch (she/her)
Title IX Coordinator and Assistant Vice President of Compliance
1 Skinner Hall
titleixcoordinator@mtholyoke.edu

Anonymous - a gray female figure with a yellow question mark in the center of a yellow circle

The College recognizes that some community members or survivors may wish to remain anonymous. These individuals can file a report online at mtholyoke.edu/go/ReportIncident, which gives them the option to include their contact information or remain anonymous. Anonymous reporting can help the College monitor the campus climate and inform its training, program planning and poli