All reports of violations of this policy will be taken seriously and in good faith. The Title IX Coordinator will provide information and guidance regarding how to file a complaint with the College and/or local law enforcement and/or state police, as well as information and assistance about what course of action may best support the individual(s) involved and how best to address the complaint.
Every reasonable effort will be made to maintain the privacy of those making a report to the extent possible. In all cases, the Institute will give consideration to the party bringing forward a report with respect to how the matter is pursued. The Institute may, when necessary to protect the community, initiate an investigation or take other responsive actions to a report, even when the person identifying a concern chooses not to participate in a resolution process and/or requests that the Institute not initiate an investigation.
There is no timeline for making a complaint of harassment or discrimination under this Policy, however, the Institute encourages the prompt reporting of a complaint as the ability of the Institute to pursue the complaint to conclusion may be hindered by the passage of time.
1. Reporting to the Title IX Coordinator
Any person may report prohibited conduct (whether or not the person reporting is the person alleged to be the victim of conduct) in person, by mail, by telephone, or by electronic mail, using the contact information listed for the Title IX Coordinator, or by any other means that results in the Title IX Coordinator receiving the person’s oral or written report.
Tiffany Varlaro
Pratt Munson College of Art and Design
Office of Student Life
1124 State St.
Utica, N.Y. 13502
315-797-0000 ext. 2183
tvarlaro@prattmunson.edu
A disclosure may be made at any time (including during non-business hours) by using the telephone number or email address, or by mail to the office address listed for the Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator is a non-confidential resource.
A reporting party has the right to withdraw a report or involvement from the Institute's process at any time. If the Respondent is an employee of the Institute, the reporting party has the right to disclose the incident to Munson’s Human Resources Authority or the right to request that a confidential or private employee assist in reporting to the appropriate Human Resources Authority.
2. Bystander Reports
If the Institute receives a report of alleged Prohibited Conduct by someone other than the alleged victim (e.g., by a friend or coworker, roommate, resident assistant), the Title IX Coordinator will promptly notify the alleged victim of the report, and inform the alleged victim of the available resources and assistance. To the extent possible, the Institute will respond to the report as if the victim had made the initial report.
3. Anonymous Reporting
Reports regarding Prohibited Conduct may be made anonymously and still prompt a need to investigate. Anonymous reports will be preliminarily investigated, to the extent possible, both to assess the underlying allegation(s) and to determine supportive measures. However, anonymous reports often limit the Institute’s ability to investigate and respond, depending on what information is shared. The Institute will still endeavor to provide supportive measures to all complainants, which may be a challenge with an anonymous report where the complainant is not identified.
4. Public Awareness Events
Generally, information disclosed at public awareness events to raise awareness about sex-based harassment or conduct constituting a violation of this Policy that are held on the College’s campus or through an online platform sponsored by it, does not obligate the Institute to begin an investigation unless it indicates an imminent and serious threat to the health or safety of a Complainant, any students, employees, or other persons. Thus, if an individual discloses actions constituting a violation of this Policy through a public awareness event such as “Take Back the Night,” a candlelight vigil, a protest, a student organization or other event or forum, or other public event, the Institute is not obligated to begin an investigation. The Title IX Coordinator will respond to reports, in accordance with this Policy, of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination other than sex-based harassment if disclosed at public awareness events, wherever they occur. In all cases, the Institute must use the information to inform its efforts to prevent sex-based harassment, including by providing tailored training to address alleged sex-based harassment in a particular part of its education program or activity or at a specific location when information indicates there may be multiple incidents of sex-based harassment.
5. Reports with Employee Respondents
Allegations of Prohibited Conduct against an employee will be addressed by the Title IX Coordinator in partnership with the Institute’s Human Resources Department. This includes student-employees when the Prohibited Conduct is alleged to have occurred in the context of their employment.
6. Reports with Third-Party Respondents
Any Respondent who is not a Pratt Munson student, faculty member, or staff member is generally considered a Third Party. The Institute’s ability to take appropriate corrective action against a Third Party may be limited, and will depend on the nature of the Third Party’s relationship, if any, to the Institute. The Title IX Coordinator will determine which office(s) will address allegations against all other Third-Party respondents.
7. First Disclosure of a Report
The Institute shall ensure that, at a minimum, at the first instance of disclosure by a Complainant to a Institute employee the following information shall be presented to the student: “You have the right to make a report to university campus safety, local law enforcement, and/or state police or choose not to report; to report the incident to Pratt Munson; to be protected by the institution from retaliation for reporting an incident; and to receive assistance and resources from Pratt Munson.”
