MCC provides prevention and awareness education addressing sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, sexual harassment, bystander intervention, and risk reduction. Programs are designed to support a safe learning and working environment and to connect students and employees with reporting and support resources.

Primary Prevention and Awareness

MCC’s prevention and awareness education addresses the following topics. Primary prevention and awareness programs serve incoming students and new employees; ongoing campaigns serve students and employees throughout the year.

• A statement that MCC prohibits dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
• Definitions of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and consent in the applicable jurisdiction, together with MCC policy definitions where relevant.
• Safe and positive options for bystander intervention.
• Information on risk reduction that recognizes victims are never responsible for the harm committed against them.
• Information about MCC procedures and options for reporting.
• Information about supportive measures, protective measures, and community resources.
• Ongoing prevention and awareness campaigns for students and employees.

Bystander Intervention

Members of the MCC community can help reduce violence by recognizing potentially harmful situations and taking safe and positive action.

Depending on the circumstances, bystander intervention may include:

• Direct: Address the behavior or situation directly when it is safe to do so.
• Distract: Create a distraction that interrupts the situation and provides an opportunity for someone to leave.
• Delegate: Ask another person, MCC Police, an employee, supervisor, or other appropriate resource for assistance.
• Delay: If immediate intervention is not safe or possible, check in with the person afterward and offer assistance or information about available resources.

Individuals should not place themselves or others in danger when intervening. In an emergency, call 911 or contact MCC Police.

Bystander Intervention Resources - National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
Bystander intervention tip sheet

Risk Reduction

Metropolitan Community College is committed to promoting a safe, respectful, and supportive learning and working environment. Risk reduction includes strategies that can help decrease perpetration of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking; reduce bystander inaction; increase individual and community safety; and empower individuals to make informed choices.

Responsibility for sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking always rests with the person who engages in the prohibited conduct. Risk-reduction information is intended to promote safety and awareness and should never be interpreted as placing responsibility on a person who experiences violence or harassment.

Strategies for Promoting Safety

Students and employees are encouraged to:

• Respect personal boundaries and obtain clear, voluntary consent before engaging in sexual activity. Consent should be ongoing and may be withdrawn at any time.
• Recognize that a person who is incapacitated may be unable to provide consent.
• Communicate clearly with partners about boundaries, expectations, and consent.
• Recognize behaviors that may indicate controlling, coercive, abusive, or threatening conduct in a relationship.
• Be aware of surroundings and consider personal safety when meeting or traveling with someone, particularly in unfamiliar locations.
• Use available transportation, security, or other safety resources when appropriate.
• Trust personal judgment. If a situation feels unsafe, consider leaving the situation and seeking assistance.
• Look out for friends, classmates, coworkers, and others in the MCC community.
• Intervene safely when circumstances suggest another person may be at risk, when it is safe to do so.

Programs and Training

Throughout the year, MCC may offer programs, workshops, campaigns, presentations, and other activities about sexual and relationship violence, consent, healthy relationships, bystander intervention, risk reduction, discrimination and harassment prevention, alcohol and other drug awareness, and available resources.

Optional awareness activities may coincide with National Stalking Awareness Month in January, Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, Mental Health Awareness Month in May, National Hazing Prevention Week and National Campus Safety Awareness Month in September, and Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. These observances supplement MCC’s required prevention and awareness programming.

Activities may include in-person or online training, campus events, information campaigns, resource fairs, presentations, and partnerships with community organizations. Contact the Title IX Coordinator to request training, learn about participation, or obtain language assistance or an accessible format.