Grace College and Seminary
Policy on Sexual Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, and Sexual and Physical Assault
Policy: Harassment based on protected characteristics, physical and sexual offenses and
assault, stalking, and battery violate our federal and state laws as well as the overall policies of
Grace College and will not be tolerated.
Grace College and Seminary is committed to the views outlined in Scripture regarding sexual
misconduct (I Thess. 4:3–8, I Cor. 6:12–20). Sexual misconduct is a serious violation of Grace
regulations. Sexual purity is the standard for moral behavior for the believer, and members of
the Grace College community are to abstain from sexual behavior explicitly prohibited in
Scripture. These include, but are not limited to, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual
promiscuity, adultery, oral sex, sex outside of marriage, homosexual acts, homosexual behavior,
or promotion of a homosexual lifestyle, and/or overly affectionate or prolonged public displays
of affection. All members of the Grace community are expected to abstain from sexual
immorality and misconduct. Grace College and Seminary teaches and promotes abstinence
from any and all sexual activity or expression outside the covenant of marriage.
Applicability: This policy applies to all employees and all students in all divisions (e.g.,
graduate, seminary, and undergraduate), all delivery formats (e.g., online or residential), all
locations (e.g., on the Winona Lake campus and at other locations), and all use of social media
(e.g., Facebook, Twitter, cell phones).
This policy is intended to protect and assist victims of assault, battery, stalking and other
harassment as well as others involved during the investigation of reports of assault. This
protection is extended during all stages of the process, from investigation to the disposition of
the allegation.
Definitions
Protected Characteristics
Race, ethnicity, sex, age (over 40), national origin, disability, or Vietnam era veteran status.
Transsexualism, transgenderism, and gender identity are not protected characteristics but the
fact that they are not protected characteristics does not mean that harassment or other
objectionable conduct based on those characteristics is condoned by Grace College.
Assault
An intentional act that causes someone to have reasonable fear of imminent bodily harm. For
cases involving actual bodily harm, see "Battery."
Intent
That which is done for the purpose of causing a particular result or with the knowledge that the
result is likely to occur. The actor does not have to want the result to occur if he/she is, or
should be under all the circumstances, aware that the result is likely to occur.

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 Battery
Intentional and wrongful physical contact with a person causing injury or offensive touching.
Battery includes rape, whether or not accompanied by force (including “date rape” or
“acquaintance rape”).
Sexual Harassment
Any uninvited sexual advances, touching, fondling, or bodily contact, requests for sexual favors,
other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, and any other contact which creates or
tends to produce a hostile environment based on an individual’s sex.
Protected Characteristic Harassment
Any uninvited conduct that creates or tends to produce a hostile environment based on an
individual’s protected characteristic.
Consent
Voluntary agreement or acquiescence.
Stalking
Unwanted, unprivileged following, contacting or pursuing.
Counseling Center
The institution’s counseling center will provide counseling support to local students who are
victims of conduct that is the subject of this policy or others affected by the conduct, and it will
make available to all students and employees a list of off-campus counseling and mental health
agencies that provide services for victims of this conduct.
Procedures
A. Victims/Witnesses to Offenses
Individuals who have been the victim of conduct that is the subject of this policy or who have
witnessed such conduct should take the following immediate steps:
1. Students or employees living locally near the Winona Lake campus should immediately
call 911 or contact the Winona Lake Police Department (574-267-8622) or the Warsaw
Police Department (574-372-9511). All others should call 911 or contact their local law
enforcement office.
a. Victims of sexual assault may request that authorities refer to them using a
pseudonym when making a report to law enforcement to preserve
confidentiality, but law enforcement will generally require individuals to supply
their real name to authorities.

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 b. Interviews with law enforcement professionals will also include options related
to filing criminal charges and the pursuit of a restraining or protective order.
2. If the accused perpetrator is a Grace student or employee, all victims, in addition to
reporting to local law enforcement, should report the incident to their Grace Campus
Safety Office or Site Director.
3. To avoid destroying forensic evidence, victims of sexual battery should not bathe,
shower, or change clothing until appropriate evidence can be evaluated and preserved.
4. Seek professional attention from available medical, counseling, and/or mental health
resources.
B. Institutional Procedures
Independent of decisions made by the victim or witness to address the issue, Grace retains the
right to investigate and impose disciplinary action in a case of offenses alleged against by or
against a Grace student or employee.
C. Students
Institutional investigations of students related to conduct that is the subject of this policy follow
the disciplinary procedures outlined in the Student Handbook (including, where specified in the
handbook, that both the accuser and accused are entitled to the same opportunities to have
others present during disciplinary proceedings and that both will be informed of the outcome
of any disciplinary proceeding). The Vice President of Academic and Student Services or the
Dean of Students may choose to meet with the victim prior to notifying the accused
perpetrator.
Discipline that may be imposed upon a student found to have perpetrated an offense referred
to herein includes, but is not limited to, disciplinary probation, required counseling, residential
relocation, academic rescheduling, and/or suspension or dismissal from Grace.
The institution will, upon written request, disclose to the alleged victim of any violation of this
policy the results of any disciplinary proceeding conducted by the institution against a student
who is the alleged perpetrator of such crime or offense. If the alleged victim is deceased as a
result of the crime or offense, the information shall be provided, upon request, to the next of
kin of the alleged victim.
D. Employees
Institutional investigations of employees related to physical and sexual assaults follow the
involuntary dismissal procedures outlined in the Employee Handbook. This includes causes for

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 immediate termination (i.e., not requiring a two-week notice) such as, but not limited to, sexual
harassment.
Any employee who believes that he/she has been the subject of conduct that is the subject of
this policy should report the alleged act immediately to his/her supervisor and Director of
Human Resources. The complaint will be investigated and may include local law enforcement
involvement. The employee will be advised of the findings, which, to the extent possible under
the law, will be kept confidential.
E. Reporting Assault and Misconduct
All students, faculty, and staff are asked to report to the Title IX Coordinator cases of conduct
that violates this policy by or against any student, employee, volunteer, or vendor.
F. Title IX Coordinator and Investigators
The Grace College Title IX Coordinator is Dr. Carrie Yocum, Vice President of Administration and
Compliance. Title IX investigators are Lisa Harman, Director of Human Resources (for those
involving employees), and Dr. Jim Swanson (for those involving students). Anyone can make a
complaint about conduct that violates this policy to the Title IX Coordinator; however,
complaints involving a student who has allegedly committed the discrimination/ harassment
will be referred to the Vice President of Student and Academic Services.
Vice President, Administration and Compliance ...................574-372-5100 x6491
Director, Grace College Human Resources ............................574-372-5100 x6074
Vice President, Student Affairs and Academic Services ........574-372-5100 x6473
Educational Programming
The Student Affairs staff provides educational programs for students and employees to
promote the awareness of sexual assault and sexual misconduct, including the type that are the
subject of this policy. Campus safety also provides basic information regarding safety and
reporting procedures. R.A.s and R.D.s are trained to report such offenses and how to provide
support to a student who has experienced a physical or sexual offense. The Department of
Human Resources provides education to employees regarding the awareness and reporting of
sexual assault and sexual misconduct.
Support for Victims
Grace’s Counseling Center, located in Indiana Hall, provides counseling, support, and assistance
for students who are victims of physical and sexual assault and harassment regardless of
whether the incident happened on campus or was perpetrated by another Grace student or
employee.

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 In addition, the Grace Counseling Center provides more information about local resources for
residential students and assists in making referrals for employees or commuter, online, and
other Grace students who desire counseling, support, or information in their local communities.
The Office of Student Affairs will also discuss options regarding changes to a victim's academic
and living situation.
Local Assistance
Winona Lake Police Department ..........................................911 or 574-267-8622
Warsaw Police Department ...................................................911 or 574-372-9511
Grace College Campus Safety ................................................574-269-5344
Grace College Counseling Center ..........................................574-372-5100 x6472
Kosciusko Community Hospital .............................................574-267-3200
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department ................................574-267-5667
Bowen Center – 24 hour emergency service .........................800-342-5653
Bowen Center – Warsaw ......................................................574-267-7169
Victims Service Center – Warsaw ..........................................574-372-9539
Ft. Wayne Sexual Assault Treatment Center hotline .............260-423-2222

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