Incident Reports and Complaints

Please view the Title IX Procedures and Non-Title IX Procedures for more information about the complaint process. Complainants have the right to not seek a formal complaint or informal resolution. The College may, however, proceed with a formal complaint in certain circumstances.

Submitting an Incident Report

Any member of the Curry College Community may submit a report of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, bias, discrimination and retaliation incident. Once the report is received, the person who submitted the incident report will be contacted within one business day of receipt by the Director of Title IX and Equity Compliance.

Anonymous reports are accepted, but anonymous reporting may affect the College’s ability to gather relevant and reliable information, contact witnesses, investigate thoroughly, and respond meaningfully. It may also affect the College’s ability to take disciplinary action against a student or employee who has engaged in prohibited conduct.

Formal Complaints

A complaint becomes a formal complaint when a Complainant indicates in writing that they wish to have an incident investigated and a decision made about the Respondent’s responsibility for violating the policy violation. A formal complaint may also be made when the Director of Title IX and Equity Compliance indicates in writing that the alleged prohibited conduct against a Complainant has allegedly occurred within the College’s education program or activity and requests initiation of the procedures to investigate the allegations.

The College will utilize different processes, including the Title IX Procedures, Student Code of Conduct or the Non-Title IX Procedures.

Informal Resolution

To address an incident seeking informal resolution:

• Both the alleged complainant and the alleged respondent must agree in writing to participate in an informal resolution process and may withdraw from informal resolution at any time. If informal resolution is withdrawn by either party, the investigation process will resume and the formal complaint will continue.
• The informal resolution process may not be used when an employee is alleged to have sexually harassed a student.
• The informal resolution process will not include face-to-face meetings.
• If the parties are satisfied with the Director of Title IX and Equity Compliance’s recommendation, the matter will be resolved with a written agreement.
• The parties will have up to two days following the written agreement to withdraw from the informal complaint process. If informal resolution is withdrawn by either party, the investigation process will resume and the formal complaint will continue.

Restorative Justice

Restorative justice is a value-based approach to conflict and harm. These values are often identified as inclusion, democracy, responsibility, reparation, safety, healing, and reintegration. But one value is more essential than any other: respect.

For Complainants

Restorative responses empower victims by offering them a voice in the process; an opportunity to ask questions and seek answers; and afford them a role in decision-making and avenues for healing, restitution, and emotional support.

For Respondents

Restorative responses enable respondents to be accountable for their conduct; affords opportunities to make amends and express remorse; offers constructive ways to repair harm; supports making responsible choices; and creates forums for forgiveness, reconciliation and reintegration.

For Communities

Restorative responses re-invest citizens with the power to contribute meaningfully to the resolution of community problems; allows citizens to articulate and affirm the moral standards of the community; provides a forum for addressing the underlying conditions, which generate harm; and contributes towards the building of safe, thriving, and peaceful communities. For information about restorative justice practices, contact Ann Coyne, Director of Title IX and Equity Compliance at (617) 333-2212 or ann.coyne@curry.edu.