Emily Griffith Technical College will provide an environment that is safe, conducive to learning, and free from unnecessary disruption. Behavior that is detrimental to the welfare or safety of other students or school personnel, and which interferes with the school’s ability to provide educational opportunities to students, will be considered inappropriate. These policies were developed to provide an optimum learning environment for all.

All students are required to adhere to the Student Code of Conduct at all times. It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct and understand what constitutes a violation. Students found to be in violation of the Student Code of Conduct will be removed from class until the instructor and supervising administrator determine appropriate disciplinary action. Students have the right to grieve any disciplinary action resulting from a violation of the Code of Conduct. Please see Grievance Procedure for this process.

The following violations may result in appropriate disciplinary action including, but not limited to, removal from school, return under contract, or immediate expulsion:

• Possessing any firearm, ammunition, explosive device or illegal weapon as defined by Colorado law.
• Fighting, assault, threat of bodily harm or sexual harassment.
• Engaging in verbal abuse, intimidation, or harassment of instructors, students or staff including disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings or other College activities. This includes, but is not limited to social media outlets, email, instant messaging, etc. or posting students or staff on social media accounts without their permission.
• Failing to comply with verbal/written instructions of College staff, instructors, and/or individuals in authority.
• False accusation of staff, instructors, or students.
• Engaging in distribution, possession, use, or being under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, an illegal drug, or controlled substances as defined in section 12-22-303, Colorado Revised Statutes.
• Participating in gang-related activities and such gang-related characteristics as colors, hand signs, graffiti, apparel, jewelry, notebooks, trademarks, and any other attributes denoting gang affiliation.
• Destroying, defacing, or stealing school property or property of others.
• Being dishonest, cheating, plagiarizing, or knowingly furnishing false information.
• Forging, altering, or misusing school documents, records, identification materials, educational materials, and internet.
• Using obscenities or vulgarities.
• Gambling, wagering, or betting of any type, either on or about the premises.
• Participating in unauthorized entry/use of school facilities and/or use of school equipment.
• Engaging in unauthorized distribution or sale of goods or unauthorized postings of materials on school bulletin boards or building surfaces.
• Failing to comply with contractual obligations with Emily Griffith Technical College including, but not limited to, tuition payments, terms of work-study or employment.
• Engaging in unacceptable uses of school-owned equipment and resource materials.
• Smoking tobacco or marijuana, or using e-cigarettes or vape pens, in any of the Emily Griffith Technical College buildings, shops, or on Emily Griffith Technical College property.
• Consuming food/drink in the classroom without instructor consent.
• Parking of any two-wheel vehicle in the facility.
• Bringing children to class or leaving children unattended/unsupervised on school property or grounds.
• Bringing animals/pets of any type in the building (Exception: service animals).
• Inviting friends/family to the campus and/or having them attend class with you.
• Using headphones, cell phones, or any similar electronic device during class.
• Displaying any form of dress that is determined to be disruptive to the educational process which includes wearing shorts, halters, or other garments that expose the body.
• Violating Federal, State or Local Laws as well as violating any other conduct policies as stated in the Denver Public Schools’ Student Conduct and Discipline Policy or other appropriate policies developed within individual classrooms or programs.

Emily Griffith Technical College does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, religion, national origin, immigration/citizenship status, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran status, disability, or genetic information, in any of its activities or operations.

Emily Griffith Technical College is committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, inclusion, and equity. The College will work to provide a safe learning and working environment where all members of the school community are treated with dignity, decency, and respect. We celebrate our diversity and will provide the necessary resources and support to eliminate barriers to success and foster a more equitable future for all our community members, students, and employees. We are committed to being anti-racist in our policies and in our actions. In this work, we will break the historical patterns of inequity, not by accident, but by design. These values are essential and enduring tenets of our organization.

The College will work to provide a safe learning and working environment where all members of the school community are treated with dignity, decency, and respect regardless of race, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, religion, national origin, immigration/citizenship status, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran status, disability, or genetic information (collectively, “Protected Classes”). Accordingly, no otherwise qualified student, employee, applicant for employment, or member of the public shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to unlawful discrimination or harassment under any District or College program or activity on the basis of Protected Class status.

Lack of English skills will not be a barrier to admission or participation. In order to eliminate barriers, we take appropriate measures to assess each student’s ability to participate and benefit through placement assessment and navigation. Based on the assessment and navigation, students are then provided with campus services or a referral to community services to be better prepared for successful participation.

Nondiscrimination Coordinators:
Title IX Coordinator
Kristin Bailey, DPR Coordinator
reportdiscrimination@dpsk12.org
720.423.2355
1860 Lincoln St. Denver, CO 80203

Title IX Coordinator
Tisha Chapman, Vice President of Student Services
tisha.chapman@emilygriffith.edu
720.423.4859
1860 Lincoln St. Denver, CO 80203

For additional information on the Discrimination Prevention and Response (DPR) Process and how we respond to concerns of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, please visit thecommons.dpsk12.org/discriminationprevention.

The College follows the Inclement Weather Policy of Denver Public Schools in determining school cancellation or delayed start (whenever DPS cancels or delays school, Emily Griffith will be canceled or delayed). Also, whenever DPS announces the cancellation of afternoon/night activities, this will include the cancellation of evening classes for Emily Griffith. Emily Griffith students meeting offsite (example: clinicals in a hospital or apprentices) will follow the guidance of the site/employer where they are meeting and their Emily Griffith instructor. For clarification, contact your instructor or employer. College closures and delays are shared with the community through local television and radio, DPS and Emily Griffith websites and social media.

General Statement Policy
Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination, which violates federal and state law. It is our policy to maintain an environment that is free from sexual harassment. The College prohibits any form of sexual harassment. It shall be a violation of this policy for any student or employee of Emily Griffith Technical College to harass a student or an employee through conduct or communication of a sexual nature as defined by this policy. Emily Griffith Technical College will immediately, upon notification, investigate all complaints, either formal or informal, verbal or written, of sexual harassment and discipline any student or employee who sexually harasses a student or employee of the College.

Sexual Harassment Defined
Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, sexually-motivated physical conduct, other verbal or physical conduct, or communication of a sexual nature when:

1. Submission to that conduct or communication is made a term or condition, either explicitly or implicitly, of obtaining or retaining employment, or of obtaining an education;
2. Submission to or rejection of that conduct or communication by an individual is used as a factor in decisions affecting that individual’s employment or education;
3. That conduct or communication has the purpose or effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with an individual’s employment or education, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or educational environment.
4. Any action or conduct as defined above when directed at any student or employee or by any student or employee will be treated as sexual harassment under this policy.

Sexual harassment may include, but is not limited to:

1. Verbal harassment or abuse.
2. Subtle pressure for sexual activity.
3. Inappropriate patting or pinching.
4. Intentional brushing against a student’s or an employee’s body.
5. Demanding sexual favors accompanied by implied or overt threats concerning an individual’s employment or educational status.
6. Demanding sexual favors accompanied by implied or overt promises of preferential treatment with regard to an individual’s employment or educational status.
7. Any sexually motivated unwelcome touching.
8. Dating one’s student.

Reporting Procedures:
Any person who believes they have been the victim of sexual harassment by a student or an employee of the College, or any third person with knowledge or belief of conduct which may constitute sexual harassment, should report the alleged acts immediately to Denver Public Schools Human Resources.

Denver Public Schools Human Resources is responsible for receiving oral or written reports of sexual harassment at the building level. Upon receipt of a report, the Human Resources Representative must notify the Title IX Officer, who will coordinate the investigation of the complaint. If the complaint involves the Human Resources Representative, the complaint shall be filed directly with the Title IX Officer.

The College will respect the privacy of the complainant, the individuals against whom the complaint is filed, and the witnesses as much as possible, consistent with the College’s legal obligations to investigate, to take appropriate action, and to conform to any discovery or disclosure obligations.

For further information on Sexual Harassment policies and procedures, please review the Course Catalog.

Background
Institution of higher education that receives Federal Title IV Funds is required by the U.S. Department of Education to define and enforce standards of satisfactory academic progress. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) measures a student’s performance in the following three areas: cumulative completion rate, cumulative grade point average (GPA), and maximum timeframe. The Financial Aid Office at Emily Griffith Technical College is responsible for ensuring that all students applying for or receiving federal, state of Colorado, and/or institutional aid, are meeting these standards. The Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress apply for all applicable financial assistance programs including Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), as well as assistance from the state of Colorado and the college.

Introduction
Emily Griffith Technical College will review the cumulative academic progress of financial aid applicants enrolled in an eligible certificate program. The purpose of this review process is to determine whether a student is making satisfactory progress towards their educational goal in both qualitative and quantitative measurements. The qualitative measurement consists of the cumulative grade point average as determined by Emily Griffith Technical College Standards of Academic Progress. The quantitative measurement contains two components: (1) the cumulative completion rate of credit hours completed versus credit hours attempted expressed as a percentage rate of completion and (2) the maximum time frame allowed for a student to complete their certificate program expressed as a percentage of total credits required. Review of Satisfactory Academic Progress will take place at the beginning and end of each payment period. Federal regulations require that a student’s entire academic record be reviewed for satisfactory academic progress, whether or not financial aid was received. Students returning to Emily Griffith to pursue another certificate program will be placed on Suspension and will be
required to appeal for financial aid consideration.

Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress Criteria
In order to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements financial aid applicants and recipients must meet the qualitative and quantitative measurements outlined below.
1. Cumulative GPA Requirement
a. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for all credits attempted.
2. Cumulative Completion Rate
a. The completion rate is defined as the percentage of the total number of credits completed divided by the total number of credits attempted over the entirety of a student’s academic record at Emily Griffith. Students must complete at least 67% of cumulative attempted credit hours. (Credits Completed / Credits Attempted) x 100 = Completion Rate
b. Transfer credits on the student’s record are included when computing the student’s completion rate.
3. Maximum Time Frame
a. Federal regulations allow financial aid recipients to receive financial aid for a maximum number of attempted credits. Students attempting credits in excess of 150% of the required number of credits to complete their program of study will be suspended. If at any point in time it is determined that a student cannot complete their program of study within 150% of the program length, financial aid eligibility will be suspended.
b. Transfer credit hours are included in the calculation of allowable maximum time frame.
c. Attempted credit hours under all courses of study are included in the calculation of attempted and earned credit hours.

Definitions of Satisfactory Academic Progress Status
Review of Satisfactory Academic Progress will be done at the end of each payment period. Students who fail to meet either the qualitative or the quantitative criteria will be placed on financial aid warning or suspension according to the following guidelines and will be notified electronically.

Good Standing: Student is eligible to receive all types of aid

• Student has a cumulative GPA at or above 2.0. Some scholarship programs may require a cumulative GPA higher than 2.0 for continued eligibility.
• Student has a cumulative completion rate at or above 67%.
• Student has not attempted more than 150% of required number of credits for enrolled certificate program.
• Warning: Student was previously in Good Standing but failed to meet one of the SAP criteria stated below. Student will continue to receive aid while on warning status.
• Has cumulative GPA below 2.0
• Has cumulative completion rate below 67%
• Has attempted 110%, but less than 150%, of required number of credits needed for their certificate program.

Suspension: Student has failed to comply with stated SAP criteria while on warning or probation. Student is not eligible to receive financial aid.

• Student has failed to meet 2.0 GPA and/or 67% cumulative completion rate requirements.
• Student has attempted more than 150% of required number of credits needed for certificate program.
• Student has withdrawn or failed all courses within a semester.

Probation: Student will be placed on probation if their status was Suspension and their suspension appeal has been approved. Student will be eligible to receive financial aid.

• At the end of the probationary term, the student must be making satisfactory academic progress.

Complete and Incomplete Credits/ Repeats
Emily Griffith will define assigned grades and their interpretations.
1. Grade symbols of A, B, C, D, and S earned during the payment period will be considered acceptable for courses completed and for Satisfactory Academic Progress consideration.
2. Grades of F, U, I, W, and IP earned during the payment period will not be considered acceptable for Satisfactory Academic Progress.
3. Courses repeated by students are counted for all qualitative and quantitative Measurements.

Grade Changes
Students are responsible for notifying the Financial Aid Office of all grade changes that might affect current or future financial aid eligibility.
A reevaluation of a student’s status will be performed by the Financial Aid Office once the grade change has been communicated to the Financial Aid Office.

Student Financial Aid Academic Progress Appeals
Emily Griffith is required to have a primary and a secondary process for students to appeal a suspension. All decisions made at the secondary level are final. The primary and secondary level will be defined by the institution. A student may appeal when they have been placed on financial aid suspension. These appeals must be submitted to the Financial
Aid Office with a completed appeal form and supporting documentation. An appeal form may be obtained from the Financial Aid Office or from the Emily Griffith website. The student is responsible for presenting sufficient information and documentation to substantiate the existence of extenuating circumstances.

What is a Complaint: 

A complaint is defined as a difference or dispute between a student and college staff. 

Complaint Process: 

Students are expected to attempt to resolve complaints informally with the faculty, staff member, or administrator. This attempt includes discussion of the complaint with the involved party or parties. Please refer to the complaint form to document the complaint and any solutions or outcomes from the discussion. If all reasonable informal efforts to resolve a complaint fail, the student may file a formal grievance. 

What is a Grievance: 

Filing a grievance with Emily Griffith Technical College is a resource for active students to find resolution of unsatisfactory or unacceptable academic situations. The student/grievant believes there is sufficient evidence to support a claim that entitles the student/grievant to a formal resolution. Before submitting this form it is expected that the student has filled out the Complaint Form and addressed the issue with the faculty, staff member or administrator. The grievance must be based on problems of process or concerns of bias, retaliation, or other impropriety and not on differences in judgment or opinion concerning academic performance.

Grievance Process: 

Grievance Form 

If a resolution is not reached via the complaint form then a student may submit a Formal Grievance. If a student elects to file a formal grievance they may complete the grievance form, which is located on our website as well as with the Student Success Coordinators. 

To complete the Grievance Form that student must present the following information: 

• Student Information

• Identity of the party or parties who are involved or who made the decision

• A clear description of the grievance 

• Specify the formal resolution they hope to see from submitting the form

• Attach the completed Complaint Form

Once the grievance has been submitted, it will be reviewed by the Academic Dean within 7 business days of the submission date.  The Academic Dean will reach out to schedule a meeting with the student to discuss the grievance and propose a resolution. 

Submission of the Formal Grievance to Student Oversight Committee:

If after meeting with the Academic Dean, the student finds the resolution unsatisfactory, they may appeal the decision in writing to the Student Oversight Committee within 7 business days of receiving the Dean’s decision. To submit this appeal a student may email their formal written appeal to the Student Success Team at student.success@emilygriffith.edu or schedule a meeting to bring the statement to a Student Success Coordinator. The Student Success Coordinator will submit the appeal to the Vice President of Student Services for Committee review. The student has the right to appear before the Student Oversight Committee. 

The Student Oversight Committee will begin deliberations as soon as possible and provide the student and Dean a written decision no later than 30 calendar days after the date that the dean’s office received the written, dated request for appeal at this level. The Committee is the final authority in the matter and will report the disposition of the case to all involved parties within 30 calendar days.

If the student doesn’t accept the Committee’s decision, the student may file a complaint with the school’s accrediting body.

Council on Occupational Education
7840 Roswell Road, Building 300, Suite 325
Atlanta, GA 30350
770-396-3790

Role of the Student Success Coordinator (SSC):

The Student Success Coordinator serves as a resource for the student/grievant in navigating both the Complaint and Grievance process. The role of the SSC is never to be involved in decision making, and should strictly work with the student/grievant between steps to check-in. They act as a neutral party and thus only serve as a guide for a student/grievant when they are navigating these steps.

Failure to Meet Deadlines:

If after a formal grievance is filed, the Academic Dean charged with review of the grievance fails to meet any deadline at any stage of the process, the student may proceed directly to appeal to the committee via the student.success@emilygriffith.edu email address or by meeting with a Student Success Coordinator. The failure of any Dean or Administrator to meet any deadline shall not entitle the student/grievant to any relief requested nor shall such a failure be construed as tantamount to a decision in the student/grievant’s favor. Any student/grievant who fails to meet the deadlines imposed by these Procedures will be bound by the decisions previously made.

Note: 

The Student Oversight Committee meets on an as-needed basis. The committee reserves the right to expedite the steps listed above. These situations will be considered on an individual basis.

Grievance 
Any person who believes they have been subjected to harassment or discrimination by a student or an employee of the College and wishes to explore an informal process should file a grievance using the Grievance Form. Before completing the form, please view the Student Complaint and Grievance Process in the Catalog for more information. 

Formal Resolution
Any person who believes they have been subjected to harassment or discrimination by a student or an employee of the College and does not wish to explore the grievance process should file a formal complaint with the Title IX/Nondiscrimination Coordinator using the contact information below. Formal Resolutions are not governed by state or federal formal rules of evidence as this is an administrative not judicial procedure. 

The Formal Resolution has two different processes depending on the type of complaint alleged. Title IX complaints require a live hearing, whereas non-title IX complaints do not. Title IX is a federal civil rights law that ensures equal educational access and opportunities to all genders. Non-title IX complaints involve alleged harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, immigration/citizenship status, ancestry, age, family composition, parenting, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information of an employee, or applicant for employment. Title IX complaints involve alleged sexual harassment or sex-based discrimination; which may include: gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, family composition, parenting, or marital status.  

If a formal resolution is initiated, the Title IX/Nondiscrimination Coordinator will provide a written Notice of Investigation to the Complainant and Respondent notifying them of the investigation and will assign one or more impartial Investigator(s) to conduct an investigation into the complaint. 

The investigation will include an objective evaluation of all relevant evidence. The investigation may consist of interviews with the Complainant, the Respondent, and others who have knowledge of the alleged incident(s) or circumstance(s) that gave rise to the complaint. The investigation may also consist of the evaluation of any other information or documents which may be relevant to the particular allegation(s). All parties and other witnesses or participants in the investigation process will be provided written notice of the date, time, location, participants, and purpose of any interview or meeting with sufficient time to prepare to participate. 

There will be a presumption that the Respondent is not responsible for the alleged conduct unless and until a determination of responsibility has been made at the conclusion of the resolution process by a preponderance of the evidence. Any credibility determinations will not be based upon a person’s status as a Complainant, Respondent, or witness. 

The Complainant and Respondent may offer any documentation, witnesses, or other  materials in support of their position as it relates to the complaint. The Complainant and the Respondent have the opportunity to be advised and accompanied by an advisor of their choice at any stage of the process. In the event of a live hearing, if either party does not have an advisor, the College will provide a non-attorney advisor to that party. An advisor, for the purposes of a Formal Resolution, is not required to be an attorney. An advisor may consult and advise their advisee, but may not speak on behalf of their advisee. The Investigator(s) may end a meeting or remove or dismiss an advisor who becomes disruptive or who does not abide by the restrictions on their participation as explained above. 

Whether a particular action or incident constitutes a violation of this policy requires a determination based on all the facts and surrounding circumstances. In determining whether the alleged conduct constitutes a violation of this policy, the following non-exhaustive list of factors will be considered: 

• The nature and context of the conduct or communication;

• The frequency, duration, repetition, severity, and scope of the alleged conduct or communication;
• The relationship between the parties involved;
• The location of the conduct or communication;
• The number of parties involved in the conduct or communication;
• Whether any power differential exists between the parties;
• The Complainant’s actual or perceived protected class; 
• Any use of epithets, slurs, stereotypes, or humiliating or degrading conduct or communication; and/or,
• Whether the conduct or communication is threatening or includes acts of physical violence.

No unauthorized recording will be allowed. All parties must request permission to  record in advance. The College, at its discretion, may grant authorization to record, and in that case, the College will also record. 

Every fifteen (15) business days, the Title IX/Nondiscrimination Coordinator will provide written updates on the status of the investigation to the Complainant and the Respondent through the conclusion of the investigation. 

Preliminary Investigation Report. Following the fact gathering stage, the Investigator(s) will issue a Preliminary Investigation Report to the Complainant and Respondent (and their advisors, if applicable) for review. The Preliminary Investigation Report will include relevant information as gathered by the Investigator(s). At this stage, parties may review, upon request, all evidence collected as part of the investigation, whether or not it will be relied upon in reaching a determination. The Complainant and the Respondent will have ten (10) business days to review and respond to the Preliminary Investigation Report with any changes, clarifications, or questions. 

Final Investigation Report. The Investigator(s) will issue a Final Investigation Report to the Title IX/Nondiscrimination Coordinator detailing the factual findings and summarizing the relevant evidence. This report will not contain any determinations as to whether the conduct is in violation of applicable policies.  

Subsequent to the Final Investigation Report, one of the processes below will be followed, depending on the type of complaint.  

a. Non-Title IX Complaint

If the complaint is of discrimination, absent sex-based discrimination or harassment, the following will occur. The Investigator(s) will provide the Title IX/Nondiscrimination Coordinator with a written Determination Report as to whether or not, based on a preponderance of the evidence, the alleged behavior took place and whether that behavior constitutes a violation of the College’s nondiscrimination policy. The determination will include a summary of all evidence and information used to reach these conclusions. 

b. Title IX Complaint
If the complain includes sex-based discrimination, including sexual harassment, the following will occur. Upon receipt of the Final Investigation Report, the Title IX/Nondiscrimination Coordinator will provide a copy of it to the parties, their advisors, and the hearing officer, and will initiate a live hearing. If a live hearing cannot be held due to refusal of parties to participate, the College reserves the right to address the conduct through the procedures applicable to non-Title IX cases.  

A live hearing must be scheduled no earlier than ten (10) business days after issuance of the Final Investigation Report. The parties must notify the Title IX/Nondiscrimination Coordinator if any other witnesses will be presented so those witnesses can be notified of the hearing. Written notice of the date, time, location, participants, and purpose for the hearing will be provided to all individuals who are invited or expected to participate, allowing them reasonably sufficient time to prepare. Live hearings are not governed by state or federal formal rules of evidence. 

Hearing Officers. A Hearing Officer is responsible for overseeing the hearing; determining the order of events; deciding what evidence/questions are relevant and permissible; and making a final determination regarding the allegations. A Hearing Officer must be a different individual than any Investigator or Title IX/Nondiscrimination Coordinator assigned to the case. Both parties are given equal opportunities to present relevant evidence, both inculpatory (incriminating or tending to show responsibility for a violation) and exculpatory (exonerating or tending to negate responsibility for a violation). 

Advisors. At the hearing, the Complainant and Respondent must be accompanied by an advisor, who may be an attorney. An advisor may be anyone of a party’s choosing. If the party does not have an advisor, the College will provide a non-attorney advisor to the party. The advisor is responsible for questioning the witnesses; the Complainant and Respondent are not permitted to ask questions directly.  

Questioning and Cross-Examining Witnesses Each party’s advisor will be given the opportunity to question the other party and any witnesses with relevant questions and follow-up questions.  If a party, at the time of the live hearing, does not have an advisor, the College will provide them one. A college provided advisor will not be an attorney. An advisor, for the purpose of cross-examination, is not required to be an attorney. Questioning must be done directly and verbally, during the live hearing. After each question is stated, the Hearing Officer will decide whether it is relevant and permissible before the party/witness provides an answer. If it is excluded, the reason for exclusion will be provided. Evidence of the Complainant’s prior sexual predisposition or behavior is not relevant except to prove that someone other than the Respondent committed the alleged conduct or to prove consent. 

Recording/Transcript. The college will record or transcribe the hearing. No unauthorized recording will be allowed. All parties must request permission to  record in advance. Following the hearing, parties may request to come to the College and view the recording or transcript. While reviewing the recording or transcript, parties may take notes but are prohibited from recording, photographing, or copying verbatim. Parties have 10 business days to request to review a live hearing recording or transcript. 

Determination Report. Within 21 business days following the hearing (unless the parties are notified of a need for an extension), the Hearing Officer will issue a Determination Report to the Title IX/Nondiscrimination Coordinator as to whether or not, based on a preponderance of the evidence, the alleged behavior took place and if so, whether the behavior constitutes a violation of the College’s nondiscrimination policy. In reaching this determination, the Hearing Officer must consider all relevant evidence, except for any privileged information (unless waived) or medical records (unless specific, written consent is obtained). The  Determination Report will include a summary of the allegations; a summary of the procedural steps in the case; findings of fact supporting the determination (which may or may not differ from the Final Investigation Report); conclusions regarding violation of  applicable policies with supporting rationale; any disciplinary steps or remedial  measures imposed; and the parties’ appeal rights.  

Notice of Findings. Once a Determination Report is received (either from the Investigator(s) or the Hearing Officer following a live hearing), the Title IX/nondiscrimination Coordinator will provide a written Notice of Findings to the Complainant and Respondent (and their advisors, if applicable) notifying them of the findings. A copy of the Final Investigation Report and Determination Report will be attached to the Notice of  Findings. The Complainant and Respondent will be advised of their right to appeal, subject to the grounds below, by filing a written appeal with the Title IX/Nondiscrimination Coordinator within ten (10) business days of service of the decision.  

Appeals for Formal Investigations. In the event of an appeal, the Title IX/Nondiscrimination Coordinator will perform an initial review to determine if the appeal was filed timely and if it meets the one of the following grounds for appeal: 

• Procedural irregularity that would change the outcome;
• New evidence, that was not reasonably available when the determination was made, that would change the outcome; and/or,
• The Title IX Coordinator, Investigator, or decisionmaker had a conflict of interest or bias for or against Complainants or Respondents, generally, or the Complainant or Respondent, as individuals, that would change the outcome. 

If the appeal is found to meet the criteria, the Title IX/Nondiscrimination Coordinator will forward the appeal to a designated appellate officer, who will give written notice to the opposing party and provide a suitable time frame for the opposing party to submit a written response to the appeal. The appeal and any responses will be reviewed by the appellate officer. The party requesting an appeal must show error, as the original finding is presumed to have been decided reasonably and appropriately. Written notice of the outcome of the appeal will be provided simultaneously to the parties. 

Completion of the formal resolution process does not prohibit a Complainant from filing a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights.

Remedies 
If the Respondent is not found in violation of policies or procedures outlined herein, the complaint will be closed with no further disciplinary action. If additional concerns, outside the scope of this procedure, are identified during the course of the investigation, the findings may be shared with appropriate administrative personnel to further address, as deemed appropriate.   

The College’s disciplinary authorities may consider a number of factors when determining a sanction. These factors may include, but are not limited to, the following:  

• The nature, severity of, and circumstances surrounding the violation; • An individual’s disciplinary history; 
• Previous complaints or allegations involving similar conduct; and/or, 
• Any other information deemed relevant by the College’s disciplinary authority.

Upon receipt of a report that a violation has occurred, the College will take prompt, appropriate action to address, and where appropriate, remediate the violation, including providing appropriate assistance to the Complainant. Any action taken pursuant to this policy will be consistent with requirements of applicable collective bargaining agreements, state statutes, and the College policies. The College will take action as deemed necessary and appropriate to end harassment and prevent its recurrence.

If the Respondent is another student, appropriate actions may include, but are not limited to, counseling, awareness training, warning, suspension, expulsion, transfer, and remediation. If the Respondent is a College employee, appropriate actions may include, but are not limited to, warning, suspension or immediate termination.  

Withdrawal
Should the Complainant or Respondent decide to withdraw from courses or programs while a complaint is pending, the process may proceed in that party’s  absence and sanctions may still be imposed. Additionally, the Title IX/Nondiscrimination Coordinator may dismiss the formal complaint if the Complainant requests such dismissal in writing, if the Respondent is no longer enrolled at the College, or other specific circumstances prevent the Investigators from gathering evidence sufficient to reach a determination. Notice regarding the dismissal will be provided in writing simultaneously to the parties.

In addition to sanctions, other action may be taken as deemed appropriate to bring an end to the violation, to prevent future reoccurrence, and to remedy the effects of the violations.

Additional Definitions 
Advisor. An advisor may be anyone of a party’s choosing. If the Complaint involves a Title IX allegation, and a party does not choose an advisor, the College will provide a non-attorney advisor to the party. 

Complaint. Complaint means a verbal or written request to the College that can objectively be understood as a request to investigate and make a determination about an alleged violation of College policy. Initial concerns will not be treated as complaints unless and until the Coordinator communicates directly with the Complainant and gains a clear understanding of the concern and what path the Complainant would like to pursue, or a determination of the appropriate path for the case is otherwise determined. A person is entitled to make a complaint of harassment or discrimination only if they themselves are alleged to have experienced harassment or discrimination, if they have a legal right to act on behalf of such person, or if they initiate the complaint consistent with their duties as the Coordinator. 

Complainant. Complaint means a student or other individual who is participating or attempting to participate in the College education program or activity at the time they are alleged to have experienced conduct that could constitute harassment or discrimination prohibited by College policy. A Complainant may or may not be the Reporting Party.

Respondent. Respondent means a person who is alleged to have engaged in conduct that could constitute discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under the College’s policy. 

Contacts

Tisha Chapman, Vice President of Student Services
Emily Griffith Technical College Title IX Coordinator
1860 Lincoln St.
Denver, CO 80203
Telephone: (720) 423-4859
Email: tisha.chapman@emilygriffith.edu

Kristin Bailey
Denver Public Schools DPR and Title IX Coordinator
1860 Lincoln St.
Denver, CO 80203
Telephone: (720) 423-2355
Email: reportdiscrimination@dpsk12.org 

Office for Civil Rights (OCR) 
U.S. Department of Education  
Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building 
1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310 
Denver, CO 80204-3582 
Telephone: (303) 844-5695  
Email: OCR.Denver@ed.gov 
Web: http://www.ed.gov/ocr

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records (An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution). These rights include:

1. The right to inspect and review their records within 45 days after the day Emily Griffith Technical College receives a request for access. A student should submit a written request to Student Records, that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. Student Records will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by Student Records, they shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education record(s) that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. Requests to amend a record should be sent to Student Records and should clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed and specify why it should be changed. We will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3. The right to provide written consent before Emily Griffith Technical College discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student’s education records except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. FERPA does authorize disclosure without consent in certain situations. For example, disclosure without consent can be made to College officials with a legitimate educational interest in the record. A College official is a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the College has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using College employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent or processor for the mailing of 1098-T statements); a person serving on the College Board; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing their tasks. Emily Griffith has designated the Emily Griffith Foundation and Parchment as a College official.

A College official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill their professional responsibilities for the College. Upon request, the College discloses education records, without a student’s consent, to officials of another school, in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, or after enrollment. The College may share educational records with parents under the following circumstances: for a student who is dependent under IRS tax code; a student under 21 years old who has violated a law or the school’s rules or policies governing alcohol or substance abuse; and when the information is needed to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals in an emergency.

FERPA Annual Notice Addendum to Reflect Possible Federal and State Data Collection and Use
As of January 3, 2012, the U.S. Department of Education’s FERPA regulations have expanded the circumstances under which education records and personally identifiable information (PII) contained in such records- including Social Security Number, grades, or other private information- may be accessed without student consent. The U.S. Comptroller General, the U.S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or state and local education authorities (“Federal and State Authorities”) may allow access to education records and private information without consent to any third-party designated by a Federal or State Authority for the purpose of evaluating federal- or state- support education programs. The evaluation may relate to any program that is “principally engaged in the provision of education,” such as early childhood education and job training, as well as any program that is administered by an education agency or institution. Also, Federal and State Authorities may allow access to student education records and PII without specific consent to researchers performing certain types of studies, in certain cases even when the College objects to or does not request such research. Federal and State Authorities must obtain certain use-restriction and data security promises from the entities that they authorize to receive PII, but the Authorities need not maintain direct control over such entities. In connection with Statewide

Longitudinal Data Systems, State Authorities may collect, compile, permanently retain, and share without student consent PII from education records, and they may track student participation in education and other programs by linking such PII to personal information that they obtain from other Federal or State data sources, including workforce development, unemployment insurance, child welfare, juvenile justice, military service, and migrant student records systems.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g.) protects the confidentiality of student records other than directory information. No FERPA-protected material can be featured in any production. Students, Staff, and Faculty at Emily Griffith Technical College have an expectation of privacy while on campus. Live Streaming, or sharing recorded video is prohibited unless explicit consent has been obtained from all parties featured in the video. Explicit consent as defined under the General Data Protection.

Regulation of 2018 is: freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous indication of the data subject’s wishes by which their, by a statement or by a clear affirmative action, signifies agreement.

Directory Information
Upon request, Emily Griffith will disclose education records without consent to officials of another school in which the student seeks or intends to enroll. Emily Griffith may also disclose “directory” information without the student’s prior consent. Directory information has been defined as:

• Student Name
• Address
• Telephone number
• Primary field of study
• Participation in officially recognized activities
• Dates of attendance
• Certificates and awards received
• Most recent previous education institution or agency attended
• Current enrollment status
• Program, college, or division of enrollment
• Photos and videos taken or maintained by the College
• Certificate status (e.g., expected graduation date and/or conferral dates/terms)

A student’s name, address, phone number, date and place of birth, level of education, most recently attended college, field of study, and degree(s) received may be released to military recruiters upon request in accordance with the Solomon Amendment. Legislation, effective January 1, 2021, added institutional email addresses—or, more specifically, “electronic mail addresses (which shall be the electronic mail addresses provided by the institution, if available).” All other information contained in student records is considered private and not open to the public without the student’s written consent.

Students have the right to prevent directory information from being released. In order to maintain directory information as confidential, a student must sign a Request to Opt Out of Directory Information available at the Welcome Desk at the Main Campus by the first day of the semester. That student’s directory information will be flagged as restricted until the student notifies Student Records in writing that the restriction should be lifted.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Emily Griffith Technical College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202.

Emily Griffith Technical College’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses use a 4.0 grading system in which an “A” is assigned four points, a “B” three points, a “C” two points, a “D” one point, and an “F” zero points. In general, course grades are assigned based upon student mastery of the skills and information required for the course, completion, quality and timeliness of assigned coursework, attendance, and participation.

Most CTE programs do not assign “D” grades. They assign A, B, C or F grades, except for Multimedia and Video Production and Culinary Arts. For these programs, a “D” grade is a passing course grade. Health Science clinicals are pass/fail.

Continuing Education courses and English Language Acquisition (plus others) use a pass/fail grading system in which a passing grade is assigned based on coursework, attendance, and participation.

Incomplete
The Incomplete grade, or “I” grade, is a temporary grade designed for students who, because of documented illness or circumstances beyond their control, are unable to complete their coursework within the start and end dates of an individual course. A student must have completed at least 75% of the coursework with a class average of “C” or better and have good attendance (as outlined in each program’s course syllabus), to be eligible for an Incomplete grade.

Before the end of the course, the student must meet with the instructor to prepare an Incomplete Grade Contract and make arrangements to complete the course on or before an agreed-upon time. If the student does not complete the coursework by the agreed-upon deadline, the instructor will change the “I” to the letter grade stipulated in the contract. Incomplete grades that are not converted to a letter grade after one subsequent semester will automatically become an “F.”

Health and Safety of Employees, Students and Guests
Emily Griffith Technical College and Denver Public Schools (DPS) place the highest level of importance on the safety of students, employees and guests. Procedures for safety drills, non-drill and immediate emergency response situations are on the Emergency Management section of the DPS website. The intent is to ensure the continued safety of all students, employees and visitors. Given that Emily Griffith is a public, post-secondary school within DPS, we strictly adhere to all of DPS’ published policies and procedures regarding safety and security. Representatives of DPS, Emily Griffith Administrators and key staff members review these policies/plans annually. Any updates are provided by DPS Safety and Security annually before the start of the academic year.

Emily Griffith Technical College Emergency Plan
Safety and Security staff will initiate notification to building occupants in the event of an emergency affecting the campus. Field patrol units and Denver Police will also support the day-to-day operations of the campus and provide emergency response when needed. Should any staff witness a crime in progress or an issue that causes concern, they should immediately call 911 and then DPS Safety and Security at 720-423-3911. On-site Safety and Security personnel can be reached at 720-423-3344.

Should a critical incident occur that would require the building to enter a lockdown or lockout scenario, instructions will be given to each floor by DPS Safety and Security via the overhead paging system and phones.

• Emergency Preparedness Manual
• Emergency Management
• Facility Management

Building Evacuation
Color-coded evacuation maps are posted in every room, which highlight recommended evacuation routes.

Fire Drills
Fire drills are scheduled for the various institutions housed at the Emily Griffith Campus. During a drill, only the floor(s) where the alarm is activated, plus one floor immediately above and one floor immediately below, must evacuate. Emily Griffith has fire drills for floors 4-6 twice annually.

Weather
Before making decisions relating to inclement weather, the superintendent, DPS leadership as well as the Department of Safety, Facility Management and Transportation teams will consult with:

• Local, national and independent weather services
• City of Denver plowing schedules
• Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)
• Neighboring school districts

The College follows the Inclement Weather Policy of Denver Public Schools in determining school cancellation or delayed start. Whenever DPS cancels or delays school, Emily Griffith will be canceled or delayed as well. The final decision to go remote or close will be made by the superintendent. That decision is based on the expected accumulation of snow, the size of the storm and its duration.

Also, whenever DPS announces the cancellation of afternoon/night activities, this will include the cancellation of evening classes for Emily Griffith. Emily Griffith students meeting offsite (example: clinicals in a hospital or apprentices) will follow the guidance of the site/employer where they are meeting and their Emily Griffith instructor. For clarification, contact your instructor or employer. College closures and delays are shared with the community through local television and radio, DPS and Emily Griffith websites and social media.

Student Accident or Injury Reporting Process
For an accident or injury requiring immediate medical attention, Emily Griffith staff will call 911. If an accident or injury, which does not require immediate medical attention, occurs on College property, it is the student’s responsibility to seek medical attention, if so desired. 

• Students and Safety First
• Bodily Injury Incident Report Form     

Note: Students must also follow accident or injury reporting processes as required by the clinical or internship site.

Employee Accident or Injury Reporting Process
For an accident or injury requiring immediate medical attention, Emily Griffith staff will call 911. Any Emily Griffith Technical College employee who sustains an injury is required to file an accident report with the College within 24 hours of the occurrence (or the next business day, whichever comes first) or call DPS’ Workers’ Compensation Unit at (720) 423-1300.

• Workers’ Compensation 
  
• Facility Management Employee
• Post Injury Report

Clery Act
The Clery Act requires colleges and universities to report campus crime data, support victims of violence, and publicly outline the policies and procedures they have put into place to improve campus safety. View The Clery Act.

First Aid Kits
All classrooms are either equipped with, or have access to a first aid kit as well as a fire extinguisher as required by DPS and recommended by the Red Cross.

Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Machines

AED machines are available at the following locations:

1820 Lincoln Street
1st floor – Left of front counter

1860 Lincoln Street
Mezzanine Across from S-1-109
4th floor – East side of elevator lobby
5th floor – Student Lounge
6th floor – Welcome Center

1205 Osage Street
1st floor Security Office Door

Overview of Safety Plan Review and Evaluation Process
DPS Safety and Security meets with Emily Griffith on an annual basis to review upcoming changes and highlight new policies and procedures. In addition, Emily Griffith administration meets with DPS Safety and Security, on an as-needed basis, to review any potential challenges, updates, or issues pertaining to employee, student and guest health and safety.

Dissemination Process
Emily Griffith uses Emily’s Wire, our internal e-newsletter, to share safety documents and highlight important updates for employees. In addition, we publish policies and procedures on our website so that all students, staff and faculty have access. All COE Written Plans are reviewed annually and updated as needed. Feedback is solicited and evaluated for implementation.

Revised and updated October 2024.