Non-Discrimination Policy and Grievance Process
Detailed information about AMDA's Non-Discrimination Policy and Grievance Process is available here.
AMDA is committed to providing an academic environment free from sex discrimination, where all members of the school community are treated with respect and dignity. Sex discrimination includes both sexual and gender based harassment and violence. All members of the AMDA community, including students, employees, and third parties, are protected under this policy. Further, the policy applies to both on and off campus conduct with a reasonable connection to the AMDA educational sphere.
Incident ReportDetailed information about AMDA's Non-Discrimination Policy and Grievance Process is available here.
AMDA does not tolerate sexual assault, harassment or discrimination in any form, nor does it tolerate threats to others' health, safety or welfare. AMDA's priority is enforcing these policies in order to protect members of our campus community. Additionally, AMDA offers support to any student who survives a sexual assault that occurs within the context of the school community to enable them to continue pursuing their academic and career goals. Sex-related crimes (including but not limited to sexual assault and rape) represent violations of criminal and civil law, and constitute a serious and unacceptable breach of student conduct. Any report of sexual assault, harassment or discrimination is taken with the utmost of seriousness. AMDA does not tolerate retaliation against students who bring forth a complaint in good faith about sexual misconduct.
AMDA prohibits conduct that constitutes, could lead to or contributes to the harassment of or by faculty, staff, supervisor/manager, students, customers, vendors, suppliers, and independent contractors based on (without limitation) an individual's sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. AMDA does not tolerate retaliation against employees or students who bring forth a complaint in good faith about sexual misconduct.
Sexual harassment or violence is unwelcome written, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Examples of conduct that may constitute sexual harassment or violence include sexual propositions, sexual innuendoes, suggestive comments, suggestive jokes or pictures, graphic commentaries, suggestive or insulting sounds, leering, whistling, obscene gestures, unwanted physical contact of any type, and conditioning of any academic decision upon consent to sexual contact or relationship. AMDA protects against the following types of sexual harassment and violence, but this is not an exhaustive list:
Gender based harassment or violence includes harassment or violence directed at a person because of their gender identity. Examples of this include jokes, gossip, harassment, or violent acts taken against someone because of their gender identity, or a change in treatment or responsibilities based on gender; i.e. pregnancy discrimination. The following terms are used in the state of California to define gender under this policy.
Both New York and California are affirmative consent states.
Affirmative consent is affirmative, conscious, and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity. A lack of protest or resistance does not mean consent, nor does silence mean consent. Relying solely on nonverbal communication may result in a violation of this policy. Consent must be ongoing throughout the entire sexual experience. An existing dating relationship or past sexual relations does not automatically equal consent. Consent is revocable. The use of alcohol or drugs will not be accepted as an explanation for the actions of any individual charged with a violation of this policy.
AMDA encourages any individual who has been a victim of sex discrimination to make a report to the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinator and to local law enforcement. AMDA also encourages any individual who has been the victim of sexual assault or rape to seek assistance from a medical professional and law enforcement immediately after an incident of sexual violence to ensure preservation of evidence and to begin a timely investigation and initiate an immediate response.
AMDA is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of personal, identifiable information to the extent possible, subject to provisions of state and federal law. Other than as required by laws that guarantee public access to certain types of information, or in response to subpoenas or other legal instruments that authorize disclosure, personal information (including the victim's identity) will be disclosed on a need to know basis, and only to parties involved in the investigation. A student may request to be anonymous, and the school will uphold that request when possible.
To abide by state law, AMDA will report immediately to local law enforcement any willful homicide, robbery, aggravated assault, or hate crime committed on or off campus, as reported to campus security or other authority by the victim.
The easiest is to submit an incident report form. Though you may also email us at either LATitleIX@amda.edu or NYTitleIX@amda.edu.
Incident Report
Christine Galdston, Title IX Coordinator, LA
LATitleIX@amda.edu
Students can email to make an appointment
Lauren Trapido, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, NY
323-603-5900 / NYTitleIX@amda.edu
Office Hours: Mondays, from 2-5pm EST
Students can drop in, or call without an appointment
Right to an Appeal: Both parties have a right to an appeal. Such an appeal should be addressed to the Appeal's Administrator and submitted to the Title IX Coordinator or the Deputy Title IX Coordinator or Appeal's Administrator within seven days of the appellant's receipt of the determination. The student must provide a detailed written request stating the basis for their appeal, with at least one of the following reasons:
Disagreement with the findings or sanctions is not, by itself, grounds for an appeal.
When making a report to AMDA, you will be advised of your rights as a student, including your right to make a report to law enforcement and to the school's assistance in doing so, and your rights to interim measures to ensure your safety and well-being after making a report. After making a report, a student may decide not to proceed with a School investigation. In these cases, a school may have to continue without the students cooperation, if, for example, the conduct reported constitutes a danger to the campus as a hole.
AMDA's investigation of a policy violation does not preempt or supersede any legal procedure or remedies otherwise available to a victim.
In order to ensure the safety and protect the well-being of all parties involved, sometimes remedial actions are taken during the investigation. Following a report of an incident, both the complainant and respondent will be informed of accommodations that may be available to them. Students may request reasonable accommodations as needed. The Title IX Coordinator or the Deputy Title IX Coordinator will evaluate any request for accommodations on a case-by-case basis. AMDA will provide information about the accommodations only to those who need to know in order to make the accommodations effective.