Title IX

It is your choice to report a Title IX concern to the Title IX Office, the police, both, or neither. You can make a Title IX report in several ways.

You can tell a Grace employee (faculty, staff, RD, RA, or student campus safety officer) that you experienced sexual harassment or other prohibited conduct. They are required to report that information to the Title IX Coordinator, who will email you to offer resources.

You can self-report by emailing ycocumca@grace.edu, calling 574-372-5100 x6491, or coming to the Title IX Office at McClain 102.

You can also report a crime to law enforcement, such as the Winona Lake Police Department at 574-267-8622, or Grace College Campus Safety at 574-269-5344, Indiana Hall, Upper Floor, Office Suite #230.

A report is the initial communication and information the Title IX Office receives about potential prohibited conduct (sex discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, or stalking). The Title IX Office might receive a report from a Complainant (an individual who is alleged to have experienced sex discrimination and/or sex-based harassment), friends of the Complainant, or non-confidential Grace employees, such as faculty, RDs, coaches, RAs, and campus safety. When the Title IX Office receives a report, the Title IX Coordinator will send an outreach email to the impacted individual (the Complainant) to offer support and schedule an intake meeting.

On the other hand, a Formal Complaint is a document signed by a Complainant or the Title IX Coordinator alleging sexual harassment and requesting to initiate either the Informal Resolution or Formal Resolution process against a Respondent (individual accused of sexual harassment and discrimination). The Title IX Coordinator will talk with the Complainant during the intake meeting about what a Formal Complaint is and how to file one.

Yes, the Title IX Office can help support you as you consider your options about someone not associated with Grace.

When the Title IX Office receives a report, the Title IX Coordinator will send an outreach email to the impacted individual (the Complainant) to offer support and schedule an intake meeting. Complainants are not required to respond to the outreach email or schedule an intake meeting. The Title IX Coordinator simply wants the Complainant to know that the Title IX Office is a resource available to them if and when they decide they would like to learn more about their options. If the Complainant would like to learn more, they can respond to the outreach email to schedule an intake meeting.

No, but it is private. The Title IX Coordinator will safeguard your information and only share it with Grace staff who need to know to help support you. You can choose to speak with a confidential resource instead of the Title IX Coordinator.

Click here to see the confidential resources available to you.

Intake meetings are usually conducted in person, but can be conducted virtually depending on your preference. The purpose of the intake meeting is to provide you with information about reporting options, supportive measures, resources on and off campus, the process for filing a formal complaint, and Title IX resolution processes.

The Title IX Office will consider your wishes about how you want to move forward. Some Complainants only want to make a report and do not want any further action from Grace. Others only want to receive supportive measures. And others want to pursue either the Informal Resolution or Formal Resolution process. Supportive measures are available regardless of whether you file a Formal Complaint.

No. If the Title IX Office receives a report, the Title IX Coordinator will send an outreach email to the person impacted (Complainant), if their identity is included in the report, but it is up to the Complainant to decide if they want to respond to the outreach email and schedule an intake with the Title IX Office. Most of the time, the Title IX Office defers to the wishes of the Complainant in terms of what support they need and what process, if any, they want to pursue.

Occasionally, due to very serious circumstances, the Title IX Office may need to proceed with certain actions to protect the safety of the Complainant or the Grace community even when the Complainant does not want to file a Formal Complaint or participate in a resolution process. Examples of these kinds of serious circumstances include, but are not limited to, whether an incident involved:

• A weapon
• A minor
• Multiple respondents
• A high degree of violence

If the Title IX Office needs to take action because of circumstances like these, the Title IX Office will make every attempt to speak with the Complainant first to address any safety concerns and provide the Complainant with support.

A Formal Complaint is a written request to begin one of two resolution processes Grace offers.

The Title IX Office recognizes that people may be interested in different kinds of resolutions following an incident. Some people may simply want to have their report on record with the Title IX office. Some people only want to receive supportive measures, and others want to pursue a resolution option.

Grace is committed to providing a prompt, thorough, equitable, and impartial resolution of all complaints alleging violations by a Respondent (individual accused of harm) of its Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy. Grace offers two processes to resolve Formal Complaints: Informal Resolution, a voluntary, facilitated, remedies-based resolution to help reduce the impact of harm, and Formal Resolution, which involves an investigation and a hearing. Grace will not begin either resolution process or contact the Respondent without a written, Formal Complaint.

Click here to learn more about Informal Resolution.

The decision to pursue an Informal Resolution once a Formal Resolution has started can be made any time after the Formal Complaint is filed, but before a determination regarding responsibility if both parties agree to participate in the Informal Resolution Process.

Click here to learn more about Formal Resolution.

Either party can end the Informal Resolution process and pursue the formal investigative and hearing process at any time before an Informal Resolution Outcome Agreement is signed.

No. You have the option to file a complaint about sexual misconduct with Grace’s Title IX Office, law enforcement, both, or neither.

Title IX is separate from law enforcement, and a report to Title IX results in an outreach email to the Complainant. In most cases, the Title IX Office honors the wishes of the Complainant in terms of the support they want or the process they want to follow, including making a police report. If a Complainant is interested in making a police report, Title IX staff can assist the Complainant with that process.

Only under limited circumstances that pose a threat to the health or safety of any individual, or to comply with applicable law, may the Title IX Office independently notify law enforcement. If there are both law enforcement and Title IX investigations, the investigations will operate separately and simultaneously. Law enforcement will collaborate with Grace as much as possible and as permitted by law.

If you are reporting an incident that just occurred, the responding officer’s priority will be the health and safety of the persons involved. The officer will ask you questions about whether you sustained any injuries and whether you need to have the injuries evaluated and treated. The officer will then likely ask you to describe what occurred from your perspective, including the date, time, location, and who else was involved (if known).

If a crime or other incident could pose an ongoing threat to the Grace community, the officer may ask questions so they can work with Grace’s Campus Safety Department to prepare a Grace Alert emergency notification to the campus. This could include information such as a description of the suspect.

Once those critical needs have been addressed, the WLPD will start a preliminary investigation. This could include detailed interviews, processing a crime scene, and/or contacting additional witnesses.

If an incident requires more investigation, you may by contacted by investigators in the days/weeks following an incident.

The WLPD will request consent from you to provide information about your report to Grace’s Title IX Coordinator for outreach and support from the college. Outreach includes an invitation to meet and information about the Title IX process, resolution options, and supportive measures. Grace may have its own obligations to investigate and will do so in cooperation with law enforcement.

When the WLPD concludes its investigation, it will send its report to the prosecuting attorney’s office, which will determine whether to file any charges.

No, reporting to the Grace Campus Safety Department is a separate process from reporting to law enforcement. You can report to one, both, or neither. You do not need to report to either to request support and help from Grace’s Title IX Office. If you make a report to Campus Safety, they will notify the Title IX Office, and you will receive an outreach email inviting you to an intake meeting, which is your choice to attend. Campus Safety may also ask for a Voluntary Statement from you about what happened, which you can complete, decline, or request assistance from someone else to complete. If the Campus Safety Department believes that a crime may have been committed, they will share your report with the Winona Lake Police Department.

WLPD is not a confidential resource, but it is private. This means they will handle the information they receive with discretion and share information about your report only on a need-to-know basis to promptly respond to and investigate the reports they receive, including notifying Grace College Title IX and/or Campus Safety Offices.

If you are interested in speaking with a confidential resource, please visit the Resources page of Grace’s Title IX website to learn more about confidential resources both on and off campus.

Click here to see the confidential resources available to you.

A Complainant is not required to reveal their identity to the WLPD in order to report an incident. A person can call WLPD and ask that the information remain anonymous. Please note that a Complainant’s request to remain anonymous may limit the WLPD’s ability to both respond to the incident and present the case for prosecution.

No, but it is private. The Title IX Coordinator will safeguard your information and only share it with Grace staff who need to know to help support you. You can choose to speak with a confidential resource instead of the Title IX Coordinator.

That’s okay. You can always talk with a confidential resource first, such as Grace’s counselors, nurse, chaplain, or athletic trainer, about whether or not you would also like to report to the Title IX Office or pursue another reporting option. These support offices can help connect you to the Title IX Office if you decide that is a path you would like to pursue.

When someone who is otherwise considered a confidential resource at Grace receives information outside their professional, confidential role, that person is required to share that information with the Title IX Office. For example, if a clinician in Grace’s Counseling Services office receives information when they are teaching a class, that person would be required to share the information with the Title IX Office. If you have concerns about whether someone is a mandated reporter to Title IX, ask before you disclose any information so you can make an informed choice about whom you share with.

There is no “right” way to deal with sexual violence and harm, so you may need to take some time to decide whether to report an incident of sexual or physical violence to Grace and/or the police. What you do after experiencing sexual assault is always your choice.

If you are in danger or need immediate medical assistance, call 911.

Then, if you can, go to a safe place and contact someone you trust. This could be a friend, a counselor, or a family member.

When you are ready, you can decide whether you want to report the harm to Grace’s Title IX Office, or seek other on or off-campus resources to support you.

Click here for campus and community resources, including confidential resources and medical, forensic nursing, mental health, safety, and victim services available to you.

There is no “right” way to deal with sexual violence and harm, so you may need to take some time to decide whether to report an incident of sexual or physical violence to Grace and/or the police. What you do after experiencing sexual assault is always your choice.

Getting medical care after experiencing a sexual assault can be an important step to make sure you are okay. Specially trained sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE) can be a resource to help you. They can perform forensic evidence exams while you decide whether you want to make a report to Grace’s Title IX Office, law enforcement, both, or neither:

Fort Wayne Sexual Assault Treatment Center

2270 Lake Ave #201

Fort Wayne, IN 46805

Hotline: 260-423-2222

As you think about your choices, preserving evidence, or what a medical forensic exam is, this resource might be helpful: Navigating Medical Care After Experiencing Sexual Assault.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancy, and treatment of injuries can be treated by local providers and hospitals.

Grace’s Health Services is a confidential resource, and can provide assessment and referral for medical care.

You may need to take some time to decide whether to report an incident of sexual or physical violence to Grace and/or the police. While you decide, you can help preserve evidence by limiting bathing, brushing your teeth, eating, drinking, smoking, using the toilet, or changing your clothing, and saving any messages, photos, or receipts.

Click here for suggestions to preserve evidence.

If a Formal Complaint has been filed and that complaint involves you, the Title IX Coordinator will send you a written Notice of Allegations against you. The Title IX Coordinator will meet with you to discuss your rights, the Title IX process, and the resolution options. You will be offered supportive measures throughout the process and the opportunity to bring an advisor of your choice with you to all meetings.

 Ask more questions here.

Grace’s Title IX Policy has an amnesty provision regarding the use of alcohol and other drugs or prior consensual sexual activity surrounding a Title IX incident. Please seek support if you have concerns about reporting drug or alcohol use or prior, consensual sexual intimacy. Grace does not want these concerns to be a barrier to your reporting sexual harm or discrimination or to protecting your safety.

A Mutual No Contact Directive is a type of supportive measure. It is a written directive offered through the Title IX Office to stop all communication between two or more parties to help them move forward with respectful boundaries in place and maintain their access to educational programs and activities in an environment free from harassment.

Click here to learn more about Mutual No Contact Directives.

Any time you are concerned for your immediate safety, call 911 or campus safety at 574-269-5344.

If you have been affected by sexual harassment, including sexual assault, domestic or dating violence, or stalking, you might be concerned about ongoing safety. If so, you may also want to consider a safety plan or a personalized action plan to stay emotionally and physically safe as you deal with an unsafe situation. Safety planning involves considering how to:

• Cope with emotions
• Talk to friends and family about what’s happening
• Get help
• Make sure your own basic needs are met
• Go about your daily activities in the safest way possible

Get Help Making a Safety Plan

One of the most important things you can do is to talk to someone. You don’t have to face abuse and harm alone.

Contact Grace’s Counseling Office or its Title IX Coordinator for help with safety planning.

Safety Planning Resources

Many local and national organizations offer online tools to help think about safety planning.

• The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)’ssafety planning resources
• The National Domestic Violence Hotline’ssafety planning guide

Online Safety

Sometimes you might be concerned about who can see your search history or how what you do online is visible to others.

• See the National Domestic Violence Hotline for how to clear your search history and other tech-safety tips.

Grace’s policy regarding student pregnancy and parenting describes the support and resources it will provide students so they have the opportunity to continue participating in Grace’s educational programs and activities. Learn more about how Grace can help you here.

Students should notify the Coordinator of Disabilities Services or the Title IX Coordinator of their pregnancy, pregnancy-related condition, or if they are a new parent. The Disabilities Services Office will facilitate a coordinated approach to short-term adjustments due to medical necessity or extraordinary parenting or caretaking responsibilities.

Connie Burkholder, Disabilities Services Coordinator
Morgan Library Learning Center Room 203
burkhoc@grace.edu 
574-372-5100 x6423

Carrie Yocum, Title IX Coordinator 
McClain 102
yocumca@grace.edu
574-372-5100 x6491

You may not know what accommodations you might need or that are available to you. Here are examples of the kinds of requests you can discuss with Disabilities Services:

• Providing a larger desk
• Allowing breaks during class, as needed
• Permitting temporary parking
• Rescheduling tests and exams
• Excusing absences due to pregnancy or related conditions
• Submitting work after a deadline missed due to pregnancy or childbirth
• Providing alternatives to make up missed work
• Permitting a reasonable time for nursing and access to lactation spaces
• Making up any work missed due to medically necessary absences for pregnancy

Lactation space is available year-round in McClain or during the academic year in Health Services for mothers needing a lactation room.

For the location of lactation spaces on campus, please contact:

• Human Resources – Josh Ailes, 574-372-5100 x6080 or ailesj@grace.edu (Employees)
• Disabilities Services – Connie Burkholder, 574-372-5100 x6423 or burkhoc@grace.edu (Students)
• Title IX Coordinator – Carrie Yocum, 574-372-5100 x6491 or yocumca@grace.edu (Students or Employees)

If you have experienced the grief of a pregnancy loss, the following resources may be helpful to you.

Campus resources:

• Grace College Counseling Office
• Grace College Health Services
• Grace College EAP services (employees)
• Grace College chaplain – Brent Mencarelli, 574-372-5100 x 6284 or mencarb@grace.edu

Community resources:

• Grief and bereavement, Parkview Hospital (local)
• Griefshare grief recovery area groups
• Heartline Pregnancy Center (local)
• Individual Counseling, Coaching, and Psychiatry (United States/Indiana)
• Lactation After Loss Program
• Lutheran Hospital support groups (local)
• The Milk Bank Bereavement Services
• Tools for families facing infant loss, Parkview Hospital (local)
• Virtual grief support

If you would like to talk about more support available to you, please contact:

• Grace College Health and Counseling Services
• Human Resources (EAP services and FMLA) – Josh Ailes, 574-372-5100 x6080 or ailesj@grace.edu or login to the campus portal
• Title IX Coordinator – Carrie Yocum, 574-372-5100 x6491 or yocumca@grace.edu 
• Disabilities Services – Connie Burkholder, 574-372-5100 x6423 or burkhoc@grace.edu

If you have a concern about pregnancy discrimination, you have these reporting options.

In person or by email to:

Connie Burkholder, Disabilities Services Coordinator
Morgan Library Learning Center Room 203
burkhoc@grace.edu 
574-372-5100 x6423

Carrie Yocum, Title IX Coordinator 
McClain 102
yocumca@grace.edu
574-372-5100 x6491

Online at:

Report Hazing and Discrimination