Title IX (Sexual Assault and Harassment)

Grays Harbor College Campus - Your Community. Your College. Your Future

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

What is Title IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681) is an all-encompassing federal law that prohibits gender-based discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal funds. Title IX is most commonly associated with gender discrimination in sports and is credited with advancing participation of women in athletics. However, the scope of Title IX is much broader. It prohibits gender-based discrimination in all college programs and activities.

Title IX protection from discrimination extends to faculty, staff, and students and includes such things as: sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, gender-identity and pregnancy.  It also prohibits retaliation against anyone who makes or participates in a complaint.

Learning About Title IX

Grays Harbor College takes seriously our responsibility to provide all students, faculty, staff, volunteers, and visitors a learning environment that promotes respect and civility. To learn more about Title IX or to complete our training course, visit Title IX - GHC (instructure.com).

Who Can File a Complaint?

Any employee, student or visitor of the College may file a complaint.  Complaints may be submitted in writing or verbally. The college encourages the timely reporting of any incidents of discrimination or harassment.  A complaint cannot be filed on behalf of another person. To file a complaint, fill out our incident report form.

Title IX Procedures

Our Title IX procedures can be found at Grays Harbor College Operational Policy 406 (ghc.edu). Section I covers Title IX Student Conduct Procedures, Section II covers Title IX Grievance Procedures, Section III covers Supplemental Title IX Employee Disciplinary Hearing Procedures and Section IV covers Grievance Procedures for Discrimination & Harassment. For more information, contact your Title Coordinator at titleix@ghc.edu.

Confidentiality & Right to Privacy

Grays Harbor College (GHC) will seek to protect the privacy of the complainant to the full extent possible, consistent with the legal obligation to investigate, take appropriate remedial and/or disciplinary action, and comply with the federal and state law, as well as GHC's policies and procedures. Although GHC will attempt to honor complainants’ requests for confidentiality, it cannot guarantee complete confidentiality. Determinations regarding how to handle requests for confidentiality will be made by the Title IX Coordinator.

On Campus Resources

Title IX Coordinator
Ashley Bowie Gallegos
Dean of Student Services & Enrollment Management
Grays Harbor College
1620 Edward P. Smith Drive
Aberdeen, WA 98520
ashley.bowiegallegos@ghc.edu
360-538-4036
Hours Aberdeen: Monday - Thursday 8am to 2pm
Hours Raymond: Monday - Thursday 3pm to 5pm, Friday 7:30am to 3:30pm
Hours Ilwaco: Every 3rd Friday of the month, 8am to 2pm

Title II/Section 504 Coordinator
Erin Tofte
Associate Vice President for Human Resources
Grays Harbor College
1620 Edward P. Smith Drive
Aberdeen, WA 98520
colleen.meyers@ghc.edu
360-538-4234

Campus Security
Chris Sierra
Safety & Security Coordinator
Grays Harbor College
1620 Edward P. Smith Drive
Aberdeen, WA 98520
chris.sierra@ghc.edu
360-538-4120

Student Support Center
Brian Shook
Counselor
Grays Harbor College
1620 Edward P. Smith Drive
Aberdeen, WA 98520
brian.shook@ghc.edu
360-538-4120

Off Campus & Community Resources

Aberdeen Police Department
Emergency 911
Non-Emergency 360-533-3180
210 E. Market Street
Aberdeen, WA 98520
Monday thru Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
OCR, Seattle
U.S. Department of Education
915 Second Avenue Room 3310
Seattle, WA 98174-1099
Telephone: 206-607-1600
TDD: 800-877-8339
FAX: 206-607-1601
Email: OCR.Seattle@ed.gov

Washington State Human Rights Commission
711 S Capitol Way, Suite 402
Olympia, WA 98504-2490
Telephone: 360-753-6770
Toll free: 800-233-3247
TTY: 800-300-7525
FAX: 360-586-2282
Website: http://www.hum.wa.gov

Community Resources' Phone Numbers

  • Grays Harbor Crisis Clinic: 360-532-8629 or 1-800-685-6556
  • Beyond Survival Sexual Assault Resource Center: 360-533-9751 or 1-888-626-2640
  • Grays Harbor Community Hospital: 360-532-8330 
  • Domestic Violence Center of Grays Harbor: 360-538-0733 or 1-800-815-2194
  • Grays Harbor Volunteer Legal Services (Legal advice for low income person): 360-705-8194 or 1-844-211-6916
  • Aberdeen Police Department: Emergency 911; Non-Emergency 360-533-3180
  • Northwest Justice Program: 360-533-2282 (Crime Victim Advocacy)

State Resources' Websites

Federal/National Resources' Websites