Sexual Assault

Mount Holyoke College complies with the Federal Higher Education Amendments of 1992 (Public Law 102-325) and 1998, which contain provisions requiring colleges to develop and disseminate sexual assault policies. It is crucial that survivors report crimes of sexual assault so that the offenders can be apprehended and kept from repeating their actions.

The Mount Holyoke Department of Public Safety in recent years has provided its officers specialized training in handling and investigating such offenses. Public safety officers will assist victims of rape and sexual assault by obtaining medical attention for any injuries, fully investigating the incident, and serving as a liaison with the South Hadley Police Department and the District Attorney’s office. College personnel, including deans, Student Affairs staff, the ombudsperson, and Public Safety officers will assist survivors in notifying appropriate law enforcement authorities upon request. College staff will also advise survivors of their rights to counseling and other services offered by the College and the community. Survivors are involved in all decisions about proceeding with criminal charges.

The survivor’s name in all reports of sexual assault is kept confidential, by Massachusetts law, and will not be released without her or his permission. If a sex offense occurs on campus, contact the Department of Public Safety. All College officials, including deans, directors, and head residents, will notify Public Safety personnel if they receive a report of a sexual assault. The Department of Public Safety has been designated to receive all reports of sexual assault and to report those centralized statistics to the community.

Confidential, sensitive care, examination, and treatment are available 24 hours a day at the Health Center, hospital, or other medical facilities. * Note that the College Health Center is open daily during academic periods during limited hours. The Public Safety dispatcher can assist a survivor or friend in determining current hours and other options by dialing x2304 (1-911 for emergencies.) An important part of the criminal investigation is the collection of physical evidence. Survivors should go to the UMASS Health Services or hospital as soon as possible after the incident (without showering, douching, or changing first, although they should bring a change of clothes if possible). The evidence will be used only if the survivor chooses to prosecute. Public Safety is always available for campus transport of sexual assault or rape survivors.

Additional Resources for Survivors of Sexual Assault

  • Pamphlets such as Mount Holyoke’s Sexual Assault Resource Guide and Domestic Violence Assistance Guide available at the Public Safety Office and online.
  • Public Safety officers (both men and women) trained to assist victims and investigate sexual assaults
  • The South Hadley Police Department
  • Counseling services at the Health Center
  • The Office of the Dean of the College
  • Everywoman’s Center - Counselor/Advocate Program provides free and confidential crisis services in Hampshire County and the Five College Community. Supports survivors of rape, sexual assault, stalking, domestic violence, emotional, psychological and verbal abuse.
  • Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance – One of MOVA’s most important functions is to provide direct assistance to crime victims.
  • Jane Doe Inc. – The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. 
  • Victim/witness advocates at the district attorney’s office in Northampton

The college will change a survivor’s academic and living situation after an alleged offense if the survivor requests such assistance and if such changes are reasonably available. Students can ask to change their academic and living situations after a sexual assault if needed. Requests for these changes are coordinated through the Office of the Dean of the College, and Public Safety may serve as a liaison. Someone from the Office of the Dean of the College is available 24 hours a day to respond to a crisis when school is in session. The dean’s office representative will also help a victim who needs academic assistance by working with an academic dean and residence hall assistance by working with the director of residential life.

The Department of Public Safety, in cooperation with the Office of Residential Life, makes rape awareness programs available to every residence hall and student group. Workshops on self-defense, Rape Aggression Defense (RAD), crime awareness, and rape prevention are regularly offered on campus. Rape awareness information is included as part of first-year orientation.

For more information, see the booklet Sexual Assault Resource Guide.

College Judicial and Disciplinary Procedures for Sexual Assault

Sexual assaults allegedly committed by a Mount Holyoke student can be reported and adjudicated by the College student judicial system. However, in cases of a concurrent criminal prosecution, the College defers to the criminal case. During a College on-campus disciplinary case, the accuser and the accused are entitled to the same opportunities to have others present during the disciplinary hearing. Both parties are informed of the outcome of any campus disciplinary proceeding. Sanctions arising out of a campus disciplinary proceeding alleging a rape (including acquaintance rape) or other sex offense (forcible or non-forcible) include but are not limited to suspension or expulsion from the College.

Sexual assaults allegedly committed by a Mount Holyoke employee can be reviewed under the College’s Human Resources disciplinary policies. However, in cases of a concurrent criminal prosecution, the College reserves the right to initiate a separate disciplinary investigation. Although the criminal case will lead to a conclusion, the College may take disciplinary action to protect the College community regardless of the outcome. Sanctions arising out of an employee disciplinary proceeding alleging a rape (including acquaintance rape) or other sex offense (forcible or non-forcible) include but are not limited to termination of employment.

Sexual Offender Registry and Access to Related Information

The federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act, enacted on October 28, 2000, went into effect October 28, 2002. The law requires institutions of higher education to issue a statement advising the campus community where law enforcement agency information provided by a state concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained. It also requires sex offenders already required to register in a state to provide notice to the state of each institution of higher education in that state at which the person is employed, carries on a vocation, or is a student.

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, convicted sex offenders must register with the state’s Sex Offender Registry Board; this includes anyone enrolled at or employed by the College, even if they are registered in their home jurisdiction. The board was established pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 6, Sections 178C–178F. The Sex Offender Registry Board classifies each registered offender into one of three categories (Level 1—considered a low-risk offender, Level 2—considered a moderate risk offender, and Level 3—considered a high-risk offender). Any member of the public who is at least 18 years of age may request sex offender information.

Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry:
Sex offender information will be provided to any person who is seeking the information for his or her own information, or for the protection of a child who is under 18, or for the protection of another person for which the requesting person has the responsibility, care, or custody. Sex offender information can be requested at either the South Hadley Police Department by appearing in person and filling out a form or from the Sex Offender Registry Board by mail. Sex offender information request forms are available online. Please note that sex offender information is available to the public by Massachusetts law only if the party has a duty to register and has been finally classified by the Sex Offender Registry Board as a Level 2 or Level 3 offender.
National Sex Offender Registry:
This Web site is provided as a public service by the U.S. Department of Justice. Using this Web site, interested members of the public have access to and may search participating state Web site public information regarding the presence or location of offenders, who, in most cases, have been convicted of sexually-violent offenses against adults and children and certain sexual contact and other crimes against victims who are minors. The public can use this Web site to educate themselves about the possible presence of such offenders in their local communities.