Grievances

All employees and students have the right to enjoy a campus environment that is free from sexual harassment, gender discrimination, or sexual misconduct. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 states, “No Person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”  Violators of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action.

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when they involve any of these conditions:

1.  Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or a student's status in a course, program, or activity;

2.  Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an employee or student is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions affecting that employee or student;

3.  Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an employee's work performance or a student's academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment, educational, or living environment.

A member of the faculty, staff, or student body has the right to report sexual harassment to the Title IX Coordinator or the Director of Human Resources at:

Coordinator for Title IX                                              Human Resources

1021 Central Avenue                                                  1021 Central Avenue

Daniel Hall – Room 220                                              Daniel Hall – Room 213

P.O. BOX 10                                                                 P.O. BOX 10

Demorest, GA  30535                                                 Demorest, GA  30535

(706) 778-3000 ext. 1457                                           (706) 778-3000

Titleix@piedmont.edu                                                hr@piedmont.edu

The Title IX Coordinator, in consultation with investigators and other advisors, shall appoint a grievance committee.  The committee will hear the grievance and advise the Title IX Coordinator of its recommendation for resolution in a fair, impartial and timely manner.  The Title IX Coordinator will notify the complainant and the respondent, in writing, of the decision.   

Any faculty member or member of the staff who believes that her or his rights have been invaded or ignored by a member of the faculty, staff, or by a student has the right to present a grievance to the Title IX Coordinator or the Director of Human Resources at:

Coordinator for Title IX                                              Human Resources

1021 Central Avenue                                                  1021 Central Avenue

Daniel Hall – Room 220                                              Daniel Hall – Room 213

P.O. BOX 10                                                                 P.O. BOX 10

Demorest, GA  30535                                                 Demorest, GA  30535

(706) 778-3000 ext. 1457                                           (706) 778-3000

Titleix@piedmont.edu                                                hr@piedmont.edu

The Title IX Coordinator, in consultation with investigators and other advisors, shall appoint a grievance committee to hear the grievance.  The committee will hear the grievance and advise the Title IX Coordinator of its recommendation in a fair, impartial and timely manner.  The Title IX Coordinator will notify the grievant and the respondent, in writing, of the decision.

Unsatisfied parties may appeal to the President, who will appoint a special committee to hear and decide a resolution for the grievance in a fair, impartial and timely manner.  The decision of the special committee is final.

Piedmont College prohibits retaliation against any individual who files a complaint regarding discrimination, including sexual harassment, violence or misconduct or is involved in the complaint process.  Retaliation includes any adverse action or act of revenge against an individual for filing or encouraging one to file a complaint of discrimination, participating in an investigation of discrimination, or opposing discrimination. 

The College will take immediate and responsive action to any report of retaliation and will pursue disciplinary action as appropriate.

  An Anonymous Tip Line is also provided on the Campus Safety website as a means by which students, faculty, staff or community members may relay information anonymously for investigation.