I- Reporting:

  • To disclose confidentially the incident to one of the following college officials, who by law may maintain confidentiality, and can assist in obtaining services (more information on confidential report is available in the Options for Confidentially Disclosing Sexual Violence Policy):
  • To disclose confidentially the incident and obtain services from the New York State, New York City or county hotlines: http://www.opdv.ny.gov/help/dvhotlines.html. Additional disclosure and assistance options are catalogued by the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and presented in several languages: http://www.opdv.ny.gov/help/index.html (or by calling 1-800-942-6906), and assistance can also be obtained through:
  • To disclose the incident to one of the following college officials who can offer privacy and can provide information about remedies, accommodations, evidence preservation, and how to obtain resources. Those officials will also provide the information contained in the Students’ Bill of Rights, including the right to choose when and where to report, to be protected by the institution from retaliation, and to receive assistance and resources from the institution. These college officials will disclose that they are private and not confidential resources, and they may still be required by law and college policy to inform one or more college officials about the incident, including but not limited to the Title IX Coordinator. They will notify reporting individuals that the criminal justice process uses different standards of proof and evidence than internal procedures, and that questions about the penal law or the criminal process should be directed to law enforcement or district attorney,:
  • To file a criminal complaint with University Police and/or with local law enforcement and/or state police:
    • University Police: 914-251-6911 (24/7 emergencies) or upd@purchase.edu
    • Harrison Police Department, 650 North Street, Harrison, NY 10528, 914-967-5111
    • State police 24-hour hotline to report sexual assault on a NY college campus: 1-844-845-7269
  • To receive assistance by the Counseling Center (914-251-6390 or counseling@purchase.edu) or University Police (914-251-6900 or upd@purchase.edu in initiating legal proceedings in family court or civil court.
  • To file a report of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and/or stalking, and/or talk to the Title IX Investigator or the Title IX Coordinator for information and assistance. Reports will be investigated in accordance with Purchase College policy and the reporting individual’s identity shall remain private at all times if said reporting individual wishes to maintain privacy. If a reporting individual wishes to keep his/her identity anonymous, he or she may call the Anonymous Silent Witness (914-251-6868) through UPD anonymously to discuss the situation and available options:
  • When the accused is an employee, a reporting individual may also report the incident to the Human Resources or may request that one of the above referenced confidential or private employees assist in reporting to Employee Relations or Human Resources. Disciplinary proceedings will be conducted in accordance with applicable collective bargaining agreements. When the accused is an employee of an affiliated entity or vendor of the college, college officials will, at the request of the reporting individual, assist in reporting to the appropriate office of the vendor or affiliated entity and, if the response of the vendor or affiliated entity is not sufficient, assist in obtaining a persona non grata letter, subject to legal requirements and college policy.

  • You may withdraw your complaint or involvement from the Purchase College process at any time.
  • Every college shall ensure that, at a minimum, at the first instance of disclosure by a reporting individual to a college representative, the following information shall be presented to the reporting individual: “You have the right to make a report to University Police or Campus Security, local law enforcement, and/or State Police or choose not to report; to report the incident to your institution; to be protected by the institution from retaliation for reporting an incident; and to receive assistance and resources from your institution.”

II- Resources:

  • To obtain effective intervention services.

    • Counseling Center: 914-251-6390 or counseling@purchase.edu (No charge or fee).
    • Health Services: 914-251-6380 or hse@purchase.edu. Sexual contact can transmit Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and may result in pregnancy. Testing for STIs is free at Health Services but are sent to commercial laboratories that charge one’s insurance. Emergency contraception is available at Health Services for $12.00. Health Services is located on the bottom floor of Campus Center South.
    • Wellness Center: 914-251-6665 or wellness@purchase.edu. (No charge or fee)
    • Victim Assistance Services of Westchester Community Opportunity Program: 914-345-3113 or vmarkouizos@westcop.org
    • Within 96 hours of an assault, you can get a Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (commonly referred to as a rape kit) at a hospital. While there should be no charge for a rape kit, there may be a charge for medical or counseling services off campus and, in some cases, insurance may be billed for services. You are encouraged to let hospital personnel know if you do not want your insurance policyholder to be notified about your access to these services. The New York State Office of Victim Services may be able to assist in compensating victims/survivors for health care and counseling services, including emergency funds. More information may be found here: http://www.ovs.ny.gov/files/ovs_rights_of_cv_booklet.pdf, or by calling 1-800-247-8035. Options are explained here: http://www.ovs.ny.gov/helpforcrimevictims.html.
    • To best preserve evidence, victims/survivors should avoid showering, washing, changing clothes, combing hair, drinking, eating, or doing anything to alter physical appearance until after a physical exam has been completed.

III- Protection and Accommodations:

  • When parties are students, to have the college issue a “No Contact Order,” consistent with college policy and procedure, meaning that continuing to contact the protected individual is a violation of college policy subject to additional conduct charges; if the accused and a protected person observe each other in a public place, it is the responsibility of the accused to leave the area immediately and without directly contacting the protected person. Both the accused/respondent and reporting individual may request a prompt review of the need for and terms of a No Contact Order, consistent with Purchase College policy. Parties may submit evidence in support of their request.
  • To have assistance from University Police or other college officials in initiating legal proceedings in family court or civil court, including but not limited to obtaining an Order of Protection or, if outside of New York State, an equivalent protective or restraining order.
  • To receive a copy of the Order of Protection or equivalent and have an opportunity to meet or speak with a college official who can explain the order and answer questions about it, including information from the Order about the accused’s responsibility to stay away from the protected person(s); that burden does not rest on the protected person(s).
  • To an explanation of the consequences for violating these orders, including but not limited to arrest, additional conduct charges, and interim suspension.
  • To have assistance from University Police in effecting an arrest when an individual violates an Order of Protection or, if outside of New York State, an equivalent protective or restraining order within the jurisdiction of University Police or, if outside of the jurisdiction or to call on and assist local law enforcement in effecting an arrest for violating such an order.
  • When the accused is a student and presents a continuing threat to the health and safety of the community, to have the accused subject to interim suspension pending the outcome of a conduct process. Parties may request a prompt review of the need for and terms of an interim suspension.
  • When the accused is not a student but is a member of the college community and presents a continuing threat to the health and safety of the community, to subject the accused to interim measures in accordance with applicable collective bargaining agreements, employee handbooks, and Purchase College policies and rules.
  • When the accused is not a member of the college community, to have assistance from University Police or other college officials in obtaining a persona non grata letter, subject to legal requirements and college policy.
  • To obtain reasonable and available interim measures and accommodations that effect a change in academic, housing, employment, transportation, or other applicable arrangements in order to ensure safety, prevent retaliation, and avoid an ongoing hostile environment. Parties may request a prompt review of the need for and terms of any interim measures and accommodations that directly affect them. While reporting individuals may request accommodations through any of the offices referenced in this policy, the following office can serve as a point to assist with these measures:

IV- Student Conduct Process

This information will be added here soon. To see the current processes, please visit the Office of Community Standards webpage for procedures for hearing alleged violations related to sexual misconduct, sex discrimination, domestic violence, dating violence, and/or stalking.

(updated November 2017)