Definitions

Report an Incident

Advisor/Advocate

An Advisor/Advocate can be any person of a Complainant or Respondent's choosing to support them throughout the investigative process such as a parent, friend, trusted faculty or staff member, or even a lawyer. Advisors/Advocates can attend any meeting or proceeding throughout the entire process as long as they are not a relevant witness.

Complaint

A written or oral statement that alleges Prohibited Discrimination, Unlawful Harassment, or Sexual Misconduct as defined in District policies.

Discrimination

Discrimination is often used to describe a situation where you have been treated unfairly or differently compared to other people. More specifically, discrimination refers to an adverse action against you that is based on your membership in a protected class, done by someone from or in the workplace or the educational setting. Adverse action means an action that has a substantial and material negative impact on someone’s ability to participate in a District program, activity, or employment. Actions or conduct not reasonably likely to do more than anger or upset someone does not constitute an adverse action under District regulations.

Harassment

Harassment is unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct against someone that is of a sexual nature or on the basis of a protected class where the conduct is severe or pervasive enough to create a workplace or academic environment that would be intimidating, hostile, or offensive to a reasonable person.

Protected Class

Protected class refers to a group of people with a common characteristic who are legally protected from employment and educational discrimination on the basis of that characteristic.
Protected classes include, but are not limited to:
  • Accommodations
  • Age (40 and older)
  • Anc estry
  • Color
  • Dating Violence
  • Ethnic Group Identification
  • Gender Expression
  • Gender Identity
  • Intimate Partner Violence
  • Medical Condition (Incl. cancer & related conditions/genetic characteristics)
  • Mental Disability
  • National Origin
  • Perceived to be in protected category or associated with a member of a protected class
  • Physical Disability
  • Pregnancy/childbirth/breastfeeding/related medical condition
  • Race
  • Religion (Incl. religious dress/grooming practices/religious observances)
  • Retaliation
  • Sex/Gender
  • Sexual Assault
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Sexual Misconduct
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Stalking
  • Any subsequently-added class protected under Federal or State law

Respondent

A person who is responding to allegations in a complaint filed against them for an alleged violation of LACCD Title IX or discrimination, harassment, and retaliation policies. You may also see Respondents referred to as the alleged offender, perpetrator, or accused.

Retaliation

Retaliation is adverse employment or education action taken against someone based primarily upon an individual’s participation in protected activity such as an investigation, proceeding, or lawsuit concerning prohibited conduct, discrimination, or harassment as prohibited by state or federal law.

Sexual Harassment

Unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct against a Complainant that is of a sexual nature where the conduct is severe or pervasive enough to create a workplace or academic environment that would be intimidating, hostile, or offensive to a reasonable person.

Sexual Misconduct

Sexual activity where Affirmative Consent is absent. Sexual Misconduct also includes Sexual Harassment, Stalking, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, and Intimate Partner Violence.