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Discrimination and Title VI Complaints

Discrimination and Title VI Complaints

Discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, marital status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, equal pay compensation-sex, national origin, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction or disability is prohibited by both state and federal law. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the College community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law, or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic. The College will not tolerate such discrimination under any circumstances. Whenever an alleged violation of this policy is brought to the College's attention, an investigation will be undertaken and, if a violation is found, prompt and effective corrective action will be taken. All members of the College community should contact the appropriate College office, as set forth below; if they believe a violation of this policy has occurred.

Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination Policy 

Non-Discrimination Notice

Aviso de no discriminación

Respect All Sharks

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act states that no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

Discrimination based on shared ancestry and ethnic characteristics includes racial, ethnic, or ancestral stereotypes, slurs or labels; conduct targeted toward someone based on their association with someone of a particular race, color or national origin, and harassment connected to religion such as antisemitism and islamophobia.  The college must balance constitutional First amendment protections with its Title VI obligations. 

Generally, unwelcome conduct based on race, color, or national origin creates a hostile environment under Title VI when, based on the totality of the circumstances, it is subjectively and objectively offensive; and so severe or pervasive that it limits or denies a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from the recipient’s education program or activity. It does not have to be directed at a particular individual. Relevant factors for consideration may include, but are not limited to, the context, nature, scope, frequency, duration, and location of the harassment, as well as the identity, number, age, and relationships of the persons involved.

Covered programs and activities may include, but are not limited to: admissions, recruitment, financial aid, academic programs, student treatment and services, counseling and guidance, discipline, health services, classroom assignment, grading, dining services, vocational education, recreation, physical education and athletics. Covered conduct may occur on campus or online.

If you are a student, visitor, or employee with an alleged claim of discrimination by an employee, visitor, guest or contractor, complaints should be submitted to:

Civil Rights Compliance Officers
Christina Vargas
Associate Vice President for Opportunity and Belonging, Title VI and Title IX Coordinator
Ammerman Campus, NFL Bldg., Suite 230
533 College Road, Selden, New York 11784
vargasc@sunysuffolk.edu
(631) 451-4950
or
Dr. Dionne Walker-Belgrave
Affirmative Action Officer/Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Ammerman Campus, NFL Bldg., Suite 230
533 College Road, Selden, New York 11784
walkerd@sunysuffolk.edu
(631) 451-4051

Anti-Discrimination Policy and Grievance Procedure for Employee Claims of Discrimination by Another Employee, Guest or Contractor

If you are a student with an alleged claim of discrimination by a student, complaints should be submitted to the Office of the Associate Dean of Student Services for the campus at which the alleged discrimination occurred:

Ammerman Campus (631) 451-4790
Michael J. Grant Campus (631) 851-6521
Eastern Campus & Culinary Arts Center (631) 548-2515

Anti-Discrimination Policy and Grievance Procedure for Student Claims of Discrimination by a Faculty Member, Administrator, Employee, Guest or Contractor

Student Code of Conduct

In an emergency, contact Public Safety to make a report 24 hours a day/7 days a week by calling (631) 451-4242 or dialing 311 from any College phone.

Inquiries or complaints concerning alleged civil rights violations in the College’s education admissions, programs and activities may also be directed to:

Office for Civil Rights (OCR) – U.S. Department of Education

How to file a complaint with OCR

Inquiries or complaints concerning discrimination in employment practices may also be directed to:

NYS Division of Human Rights
Long Island (Suffolk)
New York State Office Building
250 Veterans Memorial Highway, Suite 2B-49
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Telephone: (631) 952-6434
TDD: (718) 741-8300
Email: InfoLongIsland@dhr.ny.gov
Also see: https://dhr.ny.gov/complaint

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
New York District Office
33 Whitehall Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Telephone: (800) 669-4000
Fax: (212) 336-3790
TTY: (800) 669-6820
ASL Video Phone: (844) 234-5122
Also see: https://www.eeoc.gov/field/newyork/charge.cfm

Suffolk County Community College is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal opportunity and non-discrimination in employment, education, access to services, programs, and activities, including career and technical education opportunities.

A copy of the postsecondary career and technical education courses offered by the College is available and may be obtained on our college catalog website or by calling the Office of Admissions at (631) 451-4000 to request a mailing.

Bias Crimes and Hate Crimes

Hate crimes, also called bias crimes or bias-related crimes, are criminal activity motivated by the perpetrator’s bias or attitude against an individual victim or group based on perceived or actual personal characteristics, such as their race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Hate/bias crimes are prohibited by the federal Hate/Bias Crime Reporting Act of 1990 and the New York State Hate Crimes Act of 2000 (Penal Law Article 485).

Penalties for bias-related and hate crimes are very serious and range from fines to imprisonment for lengthy periods, depending on the nature of the underlying criminal offense, the use of violence or previous convictions of the offender. Perpetrators who are students will also be subject to College disciplinary procedures, where sanctions, including dismissal, are possible.

In addition to preventing and prosecuting hate/bias crimes, the College’s Office of Public Safety also assists in addressing bias-related activities occurring on the College’s campuses that do not rise to the level of a crime. These activities, referred to as bias incidents, are defined as acts of bigotry, harassment, or intimidation directed at a member or a group within the College community based on national origin, ethnicity, race, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, color, creed, or marital status and could be addressed through the College Student Code of Conduct. These include reports covered by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. 

Bias incidents should be reported to:

If you are a victim of, or witness to, a hate/bias crime on campus, report it to the Suffolk County Police by calling 911 in an emergency, or calling Public Safety at (631) 451-4242 (or x311 from any campus phone).

More information about bias-related and hate crimes, including up-to-date statistics on bias/hate crimes is available from the Office of Public Safety. As outlined in the Annual Security Report, there were no reported hate crimes for the years 2023, 2024, and 2025 (the current reporting period).

Campus Crime Statistics

In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and its amendment (the "Clery Act"), the College's Office of Public Safety maintains and publishes crime statistics for specified crimes which took place on or adjacent to the College's campuses, as well as in any non-campus buildings or property which are used by the College for its students for College educational purposes. The Annual Security Report contains these crime statistics for the three prior years along with important safety-related information, including relevant policies and procedures.

In accordance with New York State Education Law Section 6433, incidents of hate crime offenses are reported as a separately, clearly designated category in the Annual Security Report.

Crime statistics are also filed annually with the U.S. Department of Education. To locate statistics specific to Suffolk County Community College on the U.S. Department of Education's Campus Safety and Security website, click get data for one school and enter "Suffolk County Community College" on the institution search webpage.