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The University of Olivet Student Complaint, Incident Report, and Title IX Policies and Procedures
The University of Olivet maintains a formal set of procedures for the handling of all student complaints and incidents. The College takes all student concerns seriously and attempts to provide resolution in a timely and effective manner. In order to ensure a safe educational environment for students, the institution has developed clear definitions and distinctive polices and processes for the reporting of these various concerns.
Definitions and Right to Report
Emergency Incident: Students have the right to contact Campus Safety or any law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in the area for any emergency situation in which the safety or well-being of any person(s) on the The University of Olivet campus (including students, faculty, staff or visitors) is at immediate risk or to report allegations of crime or imminent danger to an individual or the The University of Olivet community.
Non-emergency Incident: Students have the right to submit a formal incident report for student concerns in relation to: discrimination or harassment allegations, housing and residence life, Student Engagement activities, campus security, issues of concern related to the well-being of any students, violations of the student code of conduct, or concerns related to the college’s equal opportunity policy.
Discrimination/Harassment: Students have the right to report concerns or actions that are experienced or observed in which they believe they have been discriminated against or harassed on the basis of age, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, disability or disability status, height, weight, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, race, religion, military or veteran status, or sexual orientation.
Sexual Discrimination, Harassment or Assault: Students have the right to report any witnessed or experienced incidents of non-consensual behavior of a sexual nature including but not limited to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, or communications constituting sexual harassment as defined by The University of Olivet policy and as otherwise prohibited by state and federal statutes.
Complaint: Students have the right to file a formal complaint if they believe they have experienced an alleged violation, misinterpretation or misapplication of The University of Olivet policies, rules and regulations that has not been resolved using an informal complaint resolution process.
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- To file a formal student complaint, complete and submit the student complaint form (located on the myOlivet portal or available in the Campus Safety office).
- The form can be submitted online using the provided link or can be printed and completed in writing.
- Anonymous student complaint submissions will be reviewed, but follow-up with the complainant will not be possible unless contact information is provided.
Bias Incident Reporting
Bias incidents are instances of verbal or non-verbal conduct or behavior that is threatening, harassing, intimidating, discriminatory or hostile and is based on a category protected under the The University of Olivet Discriminatory Harassment Policy (DHP) such as a person’s age, color, disability status, gender, gender identity, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or weight. However, because the expression of an idea or point of view may be offensive or inflammatory to some, it is not necessarily a bias-related incident or a discriminatory act, under the DHP. The University of Olivet values freedom of expression and the open exchange of ideas and, in particular, the expression of controversial ideas and differing views that is a vital part of the college discourse. A bias incident that is not an act of discrimination or harassment prohibited under the DHP may only be recorded for internal monitoring purposes in order to target resources and support to specific areas within the college.
A bias incident is defined more broadly than an act of discrimination. Not all bias incidents are considered prohibited discrimination or harassment under the The University of Olivet Discriminatory Harassment Policy. An act of discrimination generally is defined as an adverse action taken based on a category protected by the Policy. An act of harassment, generally, is defined as unwelcome behavior based on a category protected by the Policy that is severe, persistent or pervasive. A “hate crime” is a term used to describe a bias incident that also constitutes a criminal act. Under Michigan criminal law, bias incidents that also constitute criminal acts are unlawful under Michigan’s “Ethnic Intimidation” law. To report a Bias Incident, call Campus Safety at 269-749-7911.
Hate Crimes - Cleary Definitions
Hate Crime is defined as criminal homicide, including murder and non-negligent manslaughter, and manslaughter by negligence; sexual assault, including rape, fondling, incest and statutory rape; robbery; aggravated assault; burglary; motor vehicle theft; and arson, and any incidents of larceny-theft, simple assault, intimidation, or destruction/damage/vandalism of property motivated by bias.
Hate Crime: A criminal offense that manifests evidence that the victim was intentionally selected because of the perpetrator’s bias against the victim.
Race: A performed negative attitude toward a group of persons who possess common physical characteristics, e.g., color of skin, eyes, and/or hair; facial features, etc., genetically transmitted by descent and heredity which distinguish them as a distinct division of humankind, e.g., Asians, blacks or African Americans, whites.
Religion: A performed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons who share the same religious beliefs regarding the origin and purpose of the universe and the existence or nonexistence of a supreme being, e.g., Catholics, Jews, Protestants, atheists.
Sexual Orientation: A performed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation. Sexual Orientation is the term for a person’s physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction to members of the same and/or opposite sex, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual (straight) individuals.
Gender: A performed negative opinion or attitude toward a person or group of persons based on their actual or perceived gender, e.g., male or female.
Gender Identity: A performed negative opinion or attitude toward a person or group of persons based on their actual or perceived gender identity, e.g., bias against transgender or gender non-conforming individuals. Gender non-conforming describes a person who does not conform to the gender-based expectations of society, e.g., a woman dressed in traditionally male clothing or a man wearing makeup. A gender non-conforming person may or may not be a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender person but may be perceived as such.
Ethnicity: A performed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of people whose members identify with each other through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, common culture (often including a shared religion) and/or ideology that stresses common ancestry. The concept of ethnicity differs from the closely related term “race” in that “race” refers to a grouping based mostly upon biological criteria, while “ethnicity” also encompasses additional cultural factors.
National Origin: A performed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of people based on their actual or perceived country of birth. This bias may be against people that have a name or accent associated with a national origin group, participate in certain customs associated with a national origin group, or because they are married to or associate with people of a certain national origin.
Disability: A performed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons based on their physical or mental impairments, whether such disability is temporary or permanent, congenital or acquired by heredity, accident, injury, advanced age or illness.
*Definitions taken from the 2016 The Handbook for Campus Safety & Security Reporting pages 3-9 to 3-27
State of Michigan, Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau
If a student is unable to resolve the complaint through The University of Olivet’s complaint process, a complaint can be filed with the State of Michigan, Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau (CSCL). If a student wishes to complete and submit a complaint, they should complete the CSCL complaint form and attach any pertinent additional documentation.
State of Michigan Contact
James R. Farhat, Specialist
Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau
Licensing Division
PO BOX 30018
Lansing, MI 48909
517-241-9221
517-373-2162