Frequently Asked Questions for Reporting Parties/Complainants

  1. Contact a mental health practitioner.

    Contact a mental health practitioner to provide you with confidential and immediate emotional support. You can contact a private clinician or utilize resources available to you through the College.

  2. Have you been notified by the Office of Diversity, Compliance, and Title IX?

    If you received a notification from the Office of Diversity, Compliance, and Title IX, please follow the directions.

  3. Gather any relevant evidence.

    Upon notice of an investigation, it is advised that you gather as much evidence as possible before too much time has elapsed.  You may want to submit any evidence to the Title IX Investigator so that it can be considered during the investigation.

    Examples of evidence may include:
    • Text messages
    • Social media postings
    • E-mails
    • Voicemails
    • Letters
    • Other items that may be relevant to the situation

      Note: If you have already deleted text messages, it is possible that you may still be able to retrieve them by contacting your mobile phone provider. Additionally, it is suggested that you make a list of witnesses who might be relevant to the investigation.

  4. Determine an advisor.

    If you need assistance identifying an advisor, you may contact the Title IX Coordinator.

  5. Request supportive measures as needed.

    If you are in need of supportive measures please contact the Title IX Coordinator.

    Examples of supportive measures include but not limited to:
    • Academic or workplace accommodations
    • Modified schedules
    • Excused absences
    • Referrals
  1. Confidential guidance is available through the Campus Victim’s Advocate.

  2. The Title IX Coordinator is available to discuss your reporting options, rights, resources, and supportive measures available to you.

    Note: The Title IX Coordinator is not confidential but “private.”  “Private” means that only people who need to have information about your report will be informed.  This includes individuals who will provide you with support and/or will investigate and adjudicate the situation.

You can review the District’s policies and the following Administrative Procedures:

  • AP 3433 - Prohibition of Sexual Harassment under Title X
  • AP 3434 - Responding to Harassment Based on Sex under Title IX
  1. If the Respondent is affiliated (ex. student, staff, faculty, etc.) with Cerritos College, you are able to pursue disciplinary measures through the District.

  2. Regardless of the Respondent’s affiliation with Cerritos College, you are always able to report incidents of sexual harassment or misconduct that might constitute a crime under California and/or federal law to law enforcement.

  3. A Reporting Party can determine if they want to report to Cerritos College, law enforcement, neither, or both. Law enforcement and Cerritos College proceedings can occur simultaneously.

  4. Cerritos College encourages all students, staff, and faculty members to avail themselves to all reporting mechanisms and judicial avenues available.

  5. Cerritos College can assist a Reporting Party with making a report to law enforcement agencies. The District will cooperate with law enforcement agencies as well.
  1.  The District only has jurisdiction over individuals affiliated with Cerritos College. We cannot take judicial action against someone who is not affiliated with our college.

  2. The Title IX Office can support you by providing you supportive measures and giving you information about your rights, resources, and reporting options.

  3. The Title IX Office can assist you with reporting to law enforcement and/or another college/university if the Respondent is affiliated with another school.
  1.  Information reported to the Title IX staff is “private.”  “Private” means that only individuals who need information about your report in order to provide you with support and/or to investigate and adjudicate the situation, will be informed.

  2. Cerritos College also have confidential resources available to students and staff.  A confidential resource is someone who is not required to share information about your situation with the Title IX Coordinator. Confidential resources can provide counseling and support.

  3. Students who are interested in speaking with confidential resources should contact:
  4. Staff and faculty who are interested in speaking with a confidential resources should contact the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
  1. Under California law, confidentiality means that information shared with confidential individuals will not be shared with others or used in court. Confidential individuals cannot be subpoenaed to testify against a Reporting Party in a court proceeding.

  2. Confidentiality is generally provided to individuals acting in psychological/counseling settings, victim advocates, attorneys/lawyers, and religious/spiritual advisors.

  3. Cerritos College is committed to creating an environment that encourages student, staff, faculty, and affiliates, to come forward if they have experienced any form of misconduct. The College will safeguard the identities of individuals who seek assistance or report misconduct. Information will only be shared with individuals on a “need to know basis” as required to support the impacted individual and/or investigate and adjudicate the incident. This is considered privacy.

  4. Cerritos College employees cannot offer confidentially expect for medical professionals, mental health providers, and the victim advocate, while acting in those roles.
  1. If you want to engage in the formal sexual harassment resolution process as outlined in AP 3434 (Responding to Harassment Based on Sex under Title IX), you must provide the name of the Respondent. The process begins with the submission of a Formal Complaint Form. The formal process is the only way judicial action can be pursued.

  2. If you are not interested in a formal resolution process and/or only want to supportive measures, you do not need to provide the Respondent’s identifying information.
  1. If you file a Formal Complaint Form, the Title IX Coordinator is required to assess the report for jurisdiction and either accept or dismiss the complaint. Upon either acceptance or dismissal of a Formal Complaint, both/all parties will be informed that a Formal Complaint was filed and the Title IX Coordinator’s rationale for acceptance or dismissal.

  2. Respondent’s facing judicial ramifications have a right to know who reported misconduct and what the allegations were so they can meaningfully respond.

  3. If you do not wish to provide the name of the Respondent, disciplinary action cannot be taken. You are still entitled to supportive measures however.
  1. It is a violation of the District’s policy to retaliate in any way against an individual or a group because the individual or group reported an allegation of sexual or protected class misconduct.

  2. Similarly, individuals who choose not to participate in an investigatory process or withdraw their participation, cannot be retaliated against.

  3. The District recognizes that retaliation can take many forms, may be committed by an individual or a group against an individual or a group, and that the Respondent can also be the subject of retaliation by a Reporting Party or a third party. Cerritos College will take immediate and responsive action to any report of retaliation and may pursue disciplinary action as appropriate. An individual reporting sexual harassment or misconduct is entitled to protection from any form of retaliation following a report that is made in good faith, even if the report is later not proven.

  4. All concerns of regarding retaliation should be brought to the attention of the Title IX Coordinator immediately.
It is never acceptable to force, coerce, or threaten someone into engaging in sexual activity, even if they are in a relationship. Just because you have been intimate with someone in the past does not automatically mean you give consent for any and all future sexual activity.
  1. The District’s relationship is with you, the student. Per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the District cannot disclose any information about you or your student record to anyone; including a parent.

  2. Students are encouraged to inform their parents/guardians/support network in the event of major medical, disciplinary or academic concerns.

  3. Cerritos College will only contact a parent at the written request of a student, in instances where health or safety emergencies exist, or if the College determines such communication is necessary.
  1. The Office of Diversity, Compliance, and Title IX provides supportive measures, including academic accommodations for all parties. If you are in need of assistance, please contact the TitleIXCoordinator@cerritos.edu.

  2. Academic accommodations can include schedule modifications, switching courses, extension on exams/assignments, etc. The Title IX Coordinator will meet with the party to determine what is a reasonable accommodation given the situation.
The District’s primary concern is the health and safety of our students. When conducting an investigation of an alleged sexual assault, the college’s focus will be on addressing the sexual assault and not the lesser policy violations that may be discovered or disclosed. Cerritos College may, however, provide referrals to counseling or require other educational options.
  1. No, reports can be made to the Office of Diversity, Compliance, and Title IX at any time.

  2. Individuals are encouraged to report misconduct as soon as they are able in order to ensure the preservation of evidence and memory.
  1. Individuals can access a wide range of supportive measures when they report an incident of sexual or protected class misconduct.

  2. Reasonable supportive measures are available to all parties.

  3. Examples of supportive measures can include academic accommodations (ex. extension on an assignment), a no-contact directive, referrals, emergency housing, etc. The goal of supportive measures is to ensure all parties are able to continue to participate in the educational programs and activities.
  1. Individuals do not need to file a formal complaint or participate in a formal resolution process in order to receive supportive measures.

  2. Supportive measures are available to all parties, free of charge.
  1. Complainants/Reporting Parties and Respondents are entitled to have an advisor of their choice accompany them to all meetings with the Office of Diversity, Compliance and Title IX.

  2. If a party does not have an advisor at the Live Hearing, the District will provide an advisor to conduct the cross-examination on the party’s behalf, free of charge.
Contact the District's Title IX Coordinator.