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Title IX Compliance and Hazing

Our Commitment

South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning and working environment for all students, employees, and visitors. In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, SGTC does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any of its education programs or activities.

As a public technical college in the State of Georgia and a member institution of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), we comply with all applicable federal and state civil rights laws.

Sex-based discrimination includes, but is not limited to:

  • Sexual harassment
  • Sexual assault
  • Dating violence
  • Domestic violence
  • Stalking
  • Sex-based discrimination in academic programs, admissions, athletics, and employment
  • Discrimination related to pregnancy or parental status
  • Discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity

What Is Title IX?

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal funding.

Under Title IX, technical colleges must:

  • Respond promptly and equitably to reports of sex-based misconduct
  • Offer supportive measures to involved parties
  • Provide a fair and impartial grievance process
  • Prevent retaliation

Title IX Coordinator

SGTC has designated a Title IX Coordinator to oversee compliance, investigate complaints, and ensure equitable resolution.

Title IX Coordinator
Eulish Kinchens
VP of Student Affairs
O: (229) 931-2249
ekinchens@southgatech.edu

The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for:

  • Receiving reports of sex-based discrimination and harassment
  • Coordinating supportive measures
  • Conducting or overseeing investigations
  • Monitoring compliance with Title IX and TCSG policy
  • Providing training and prevention education

How to Report

Students, employees, applicants, and third parties may report sex-based discrimination, hazing, or harassment at any time.

You may report by:

Reports may be made regardless of whether the incident occurred on campus, off campus, or online if it affects a college program or activity.

Supportive Measures

Supportive measures are available to complainants and respondents, regardless of whether a formal complaint is filed. These may include:

  • Academic accommodations
  • Schedule adjustments
  • Extensions on assignments
  • Changes in work or class locations
  • No-contact directives
  • Counseling referrals
  • Safety planning

Supportive measures are non-disciplinary, non-punitive, and provided at no cost.

Grievance Process

When a formal complaint is filed, SGTC follows the grievance procedures established by Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and federal regulations.

The process generally includes:

  1. Written notice to the parties
  2. A prompt and impartial investigation
  3. Opportunity to present evidence and witnesses
  4. Review of evidence by both parties
  5. A written determination
  6. An opportunity to appeal

All parties are treated equitably throughout the process.

Confidential Resources

Individuals seeking confidential assistance may contact:

  • Student Counseling Services
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Local advocacy organizations
  • Healthcare providers

Confidential resources can provide support without automatically initiating a formal investigation.

Institutional Policy on Hazing Prevention, Reporting, and Disclosure

1. Policy Statement and Federal/State Compliance

South Georgia Technical College strictly prohibits hazing in any form. In compliance with the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA)—which amended the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (20 U.S.C. § 1092(f))—and Georgia’s SB 85 “Max Gruver Act” (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61), the College is committed to preventing hazing, transparently reporting violations, and promoting a safe campus environment.

2. Legal Definitions of Hazing

For institutional oversight and disciplinary purposes, hazing is defined under both federal and state standards:

  • Federal Definition (Stop Campus Hazing Act / Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act): Any intentional, knowing or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that
    • Is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and
    • causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the College or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team) of physical or psychological injury
      • Definition for Physical or Psychological Injury:
        • whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body or similar activity;
        • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics or other similar activity;
        • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs or other substances;
        • causing, coercing or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
        • any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
        • any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal or Federal law; and
        • any activity that induces, causes or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal or Federal law.
  • State Definition (Georgia O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61 - Max Gruver Act): (a) As used in this Code section, the term:
    • (1) "Haze" or "hazing" means to subject a student to an activity which endangers or is likely to endanger the physical health of a student or coerces the student through the use of social or physical pressure to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance which subjects the student to a likely risk of vomiting, intoxication, or unconsciousness regardless of a student's willingness to participate in such activity.
    • (2) "School" means any unit of the University System of Georgia, any unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, or any private postsecondary school, college, or university in this state.
    • (3) "School organization" means any association, corporation, order, club, society, fraternity, sorority, athletic team, or a group living together which has students or alumni as its principal members, including local affiliate organizations.
    • (4) "Student" means any person enrolled or prospectively enrolled in a school in this state.
  • (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to haze any student in connection with or as a condition or precondition of gaining acceptance, membership, office, or other status in a school organization.(c) Any person who violates this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.
  • (c) Any person who violates this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.

3. Campus Transparency & Public Reporting

To satisfy both federal (SCHA) and state requirements, the College maintains two distinct reporting standards:

  • Public Campus Hazing Transparency Report: The College publishes a publicly accessible online log detailing all findings of hazing violations, adjudications, and sanctions involving student organizations. Each entry includes the organization name, incident date(s), specific findings, sanctions, and final outcomes. This report is updated biannually (at least twice per year) and maintained for a minimum of five (5) years following final adjudication.
  • Clery Act Annual Security Fire Safety Report (ASFSR): In accordance with the SCHA amendments to the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, all reported hazing incidents are recorded in the official campus crime log and included as statistics in the College’s published Annual Security Report (ASR).

4. Reporting Hazing Violations

Violations may lead to institutional disciplinary sanctions and criminal charges under Georgia law (guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature). To report suspected hazing:

5. Campus Hazing Transparency Report - As of 09/10/2026 no reports of hazing having been reported

*Mandatory Public Record - Strictly Excludes Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Pursuant to Federal & State Campus Safety Transparency Standards

Student Organization Name Violation Alcohol/Drug Involvement Incident Date Investigation Initiation Date Inv Conclusion Date Notification of outcome to student organization date Findings Sanctions

6. TCSG Procedures: https://tcsg.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/policymanual/overview

  • Procedure 7.1.1p2 Clery Act Compliance
  • Procedure 6.7.2p2 Student Conduct Codes

Prohibition Against Retaliation

Retaliation against any person for reporting discrimination, participating in an investigation, or exercising rights under Title IX is strictly prohibited.

Any concerns about retaliation should be reported immediately to the Title IX Coordinator.

External Reporting Options

Individuals also have the right to file a complaint with:

U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
Website: https://www.ed.gov/ocr
Phone: 1-800-421-3481

Title IX Training and Prevention

SGTC has participated in the following training courses per Title IX requirements.

SGTC is committed to ensuring that all members of our campus community understand their rights and responsibilities under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The College provides comprehensive training for students, faculty, and staff to prevent and respond to sex-based discrimination, harassment, and violence.

Training for Key Roles

  • Title IX Coordinator – Receives training on Title IX responsibilities, investigations, supportive measures, and ensuring impartiality.
  • Investigators – Trained to conduct thorough, fair, and objective investigations in accordance with federal regulations.
  • Decision-Makers – Trained to evaluate evidence impartially, apply the preponderance of evidence standard, and make equitable determinations of responsibility.
  • Informal Resolution Facilitators (if applicable) – Trained to guide voluntary resolution processes while maintaining confidentiality and fairness.

Campus-Wide Training

All students and employees receive education on:

  • Recognizing and preventing sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking
  • Bystander intervention strategies
  • Rights and reporting options under Title IX
  • Consent and healthy relationship standards

Commitment to Ongoing Education

The College provides ongoing, annual training and refresher programs to ensure all campus community members remain informed of their rights and responsibilities under Title IX. Training incorporates best practices for impartiality, confidentiality, and trauma-informed support for affected individuals.

For more information about Title IX training, or to request a copy of our training materials, please contact the Title IX Coordinator:
Eulish Kinchens
VP of Student Affairs/Athletics Compliance Coordinator
O: (229) 931-2249
ekinchens@southgatech.edu