Safety & Nondiscrimination
Stewarding a safe community and learning environment is of core importance to us. Resources for safety, emergency preparedness, sexual assault prevention, Title IX, and nondiscrimination are made accessible to students, faculty, and staff through this online resource and during orientation events at the beginning of each academic year.
COVID-19
The Seattle School is actively monitoring the COVID-19 situation and preparing plans regarding the mitigation of risk and impact to the community. As this is a dynamic situation, we are regularly updating the community by email and on our COVID-19 page.
Emergency Contacts
In case of emergency, call 911. You may report related emergencies to the emergency response staff members found here.
Nondiscrimination & Title IX
The Seattle School commits to protect the civil rights of our students and employees toward the end of ensuring that their access to education and employment is not impaired by discrimination, harassment, or assault.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq., is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs, or activities operated by recipients of federal financial assistance. Programs and activities include, but are not limited to, recruitment, admissions, financial aid, athletics, course offerings, and employment. Examples of the types of discrimination that are prohibited under Title IX include sexual harassment, sexual assault/sexual violence, discrimination based on pregnancy and the failure to provide equal opportunity in athletics.
Nondiscrimination & Title IX Policy and Procedure
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act & ReportingThe Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides protections to individuals who are the target of sexual violence, domestic/dating violence, and stalking. Complaints of violations under Title IX or VAWA may be directed to The Seattle School’s Title IX Coordinators. Reports of sexual assault/violence may also be reported to:
Seattle Police Department—West Precinct
810 Virginia Street, Seattle WA 98101
(206) 684-8917
The West Precinct lobby is open and their patrol and 911 response services operate 24/7.
The Center for Sexual Assault & Traumatic Stress
401 Broadway, Suite 2075,
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 744-1600
The Student Development Committee (SDC) is a group of administrative and instructional staff that exists to create interdepartmental awareness of students who are struggling at The Seattle School. The SDC meets quarterly and seeks to provide collaborative pastoral care for students as necessary. The SDC operates with appropriate confidentiality. Information shared there does not impact or become a part of students’ formal or informal academic record. If you are concerned for a student’s well-being, notify the SDC using the action form below.
Student Development Committee Action Form
Suicide Intervention Incident Report
Suicide Intervention Plan
As an institution providing Title IV funding and in compliance with The Clery Act we log all crimes reported in a Campus Safety Report, which is distributed annually on or before October 1. Please note each report below is for the previous three calendar years.
In the event of a fire alarm or other emergency requiring evacuation of the building, it is mandatory that all persons observe these procedures:
- Stay calm. Stop work immediately. Do not pack up supplies or work in progress.
- Follow directions from nearest faculty or staff member for exiting your area. Exit building using stairwells only.
- After exiting, immediately head away from the building. Clear the front entrance by moving at least 100 feet North or South along Elliott Avenue.
- Do not reenter the building until the “All Clear” is given by faculty or staff.
In the event of an earthquake, observe the following safety procedures:
- Stay calm. Immediately move away from windows or glass.
- Get under a desk or table until shaking stops.
- Following directions from the nearest faculty or staff member for building evacuation.
- Trust and listen to your instincts.
- Project outward confidence and a “street smart” attitude. Make direct eye contact when walking toward people. Avoid walking with your arms full, staring down at the sidewalk, or talking on a phone — any posture that makes you appear more vulnerable to being assaulted.
- Walk with a friend or in groups in well-lit areas, even if it means taking a longer route. Walk in the middle of the sidewalk and avoid spaces where others could hide, such as bushes and alleys.
- Keep valuables within your view (i.e. purse, backpack, laptop, etc) and carry your wallet and phone in your front pockets.
- Lock car doors and do not leave valuables in plain sight.
New students and employees are provided information on sexual assault awareness, prevention, and procedures at orientation events at the beginning of each academic year. For new employees, this information is provided at your new employee orientation.
Precautions
Sexual assault is defined as any assault committed with a sexual motivation or intent, including but not limited to sexual misconduct with a minor, indecent liberties, incest, and rape. While we don’t have ultimate control over tragic circumstances, mindfulness of the following guidelines may help you protect yourself:
- Avoid alcohol abuse. This is often a factor in date rape or other sexual assaults.
- Express yourself clearly and expect that your wishes will be honored.
- Trust your instincts about possible danger. If someone or something makes you uneasy, get out or away.
- Be willing to ask for help to ensure your own well-being.
- Be committed to the personal safety of others.
- Know the person you are dating. Meet new people in public places.
- Be wary of anyone who acts jealous or possessive, displays anger or aggression, ignores your wishes, ignores your personal space boundaries, attempts to make you feel guilty or gets hostile when you say “no.”
- Be aware of your surroundings. Familiarize yourself with alternative routes.
- Whenever possible, walk with a group of people.
- If you are in immediate danger, yell “fire!”—not “help” or “rape.” This has the potential for surprising the attacker and drawing a crowd.
If sexual assault occurs, get to a place of safety immediately and call 911.
- Do not shower, bathe, or douche.
- Do not urinate, if possible.
- Do not eat, drink liquids, smoke or brush teeth if oral contact took place.
- Keep the clothes worn during the offense. If clothes are changed, place clothes in a paper bag (evidence deteriorates in plastic).
- Get medical attention quickly.
- Do not destroy the physical evidence that may be found near the crime. If the crime occurred in the victim’s home, the victim should not clean or straighten until the police have had an opportunity to collect evidence.
- Write down all details remembered as soon as possible and tell someone you trust.
Reporting
Filing a police report does not obligate the victim to move forward with prosecution, but it does make legal action possible if the decision to prosecute is made later. The earlier the incident is reported, the easier it is to collect and preserve valuable evidence for criminal prosecution. Following an incident on campus, victims are strongly encouraged to make a report a Title IX Coordinator or a member of the faculty or staff in order to support your safety and other students and staff. Any staff members who are informed of sexual assault must report all incidences to a Title IX Coordinator. Both the victim and the accused will be given the opportunity to present the facts as they see them and both will be informed of the results of the proceeding. Sex offenses by a student may result in expulsion. If you are the victim of a crime and do not want to pursue action with security personnel at The Seattle School or the criminal justice system, you may still want to consider making a confidential report. With your permission, a Title IX Coordinator or a designee can file a report on the details of the incident without revealing your identity. The purpose of a confidential report is to comply with your wish to keep the matter confidential, while taking steps to ensure the future safety of yourself and others. With such information, The Seattle School can keep an accurate record of the number of incidents involving students, determine where there is a pattern of crime with regard to a particular location, method, or assailant, and alert the campus community to potential danger. Reports filed in this manner are counted and disclosed in the annual crime statistics for the institution.
Campus Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights
- Survivors shall be notified of their options to notify law enforcement.
- Accuser and accused must have the same opportunity to have others present.
- Both parties shall be informed of the outcome of any disciplinary proceeding.
- Survivors shall be notified of counseling services.
- Survivors shall be notified of options for changing academic and living situations.