Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is committed in principle, policy, and practice to fostering and supporting an environment that prohibits discrimination in all its forms, and supports equal opportunity, diversity, equity, and affirmative action. The College is committed to providing a welcoming and respectful work and educational environment, where all individuals within the MCLA community benefit from each other’s experiences, fostering mutual respect and understanding for divergent views. The College is actively dedicated to providing educational, working, and living environments that value the diverse backgrounds and experiences of all members of our community.
MCLA does not discriminate in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its educational programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital or parental status, or veteran status. The College also prohibits discrimination or discriminatory harassment on all of those bases including retaliation. Such behaviors violate our Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Affirmative Action Plan, will not be tolerated, and may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination or expulsion.
It is also the policy of MCLA to provide each student, employee, and other person having dealings with the institution an environment free from unlawful sexual violence and all forms of misconduct on the basis of gender, gender identity, or gender expression. The College prohibits rape, statutory rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, incest, sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, and retaliation. These behaviors violate the College’s Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy, including Sexual Harassment, Gender-Based Harassment, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking (“Title IX Sexual Harassment”). Such behaviors will not be tolerated and may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination or expulsion.
The Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Affirmative Action Plan and Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy apply to all College programs and activities, including, but not limited to, athletics, instruction, grading, housing, and employment as well as off-campus conduct that negatively affects a community member’s MCLA experience. They apply to all members of the campus community, including, but not limited to, students, faculty, librarians, staff, visitors, contractors and applicants for employment or admission. Preventing discrimination and harassment and creating an inclusive and equitable living, learning, and working environment is the responsibility of all members of the MCLA community.
The Dean for Title IX, Equal Opportunity, and Student Wellness oversees the College’s compliance with these policies. The Dean for Title IX, Equal Opportunity, and Student Wellness handles complaints of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, and retaliation from and about students, applicants, employees, faculty, staff, and visitors to campus. The Dean also oversees the College’s compliance with state and federal non-discrimination and equal opportunity laws.
The Dean is the College’s Title IX coordinator and is responsible for MCLA’s compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the administration of the College’s Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy. In addition, the Dean is charged with the responsibility for the
College’s compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
MCLA’s Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Affirmative Action Plan may be found online HERE.
Anyone with questions, concerns, or complaints regarding discrimination, discriminatory harassment or retaliation may contact the Dean for Title IX, Equal Opportunity, and Student Wellness at:
Dean for Title IX, Equal Opportunity, and Student Wellness
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Patrick Connelly
Office Location: Amsler Campus Center - Room 105F
Phone: 413-662-5127
Email: patrick.connelly@mcla.edu
Mailing Address: 375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247
Anyone with questions, concerns or complaints regarding sexual violence, sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and/or retaliation should contact the Title IX Coordinator:
Dean for Title IX, Equal Opportunity, and Student Wellness
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Any person with questions or concerns about any form of discrimination, harassment, sexual violence, sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking and/or retaliation may also contact any of the following agencies:
The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights 5
Post Office Square, 8th floor
Boston, MA 02109-3921
phone: 617.289.0111
fax: 617.289.0150
OCR.Boston@ed.gov
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
John F. Kennedy Federal Building
475 Government Center
Boston, MA 02203
phone: 617.565.3200
TTY: 617.565.3204
info@eeoc.gov
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
One Ashburton Place
Sixth Floor, Room 601
Boston, MA 02108
phone: 617.994.6000
fax: 617.994.6024
TTY: 617.994.6196
