HWS Policies

HWS Definitions

HWS defines sexual assault and other types of misconduct in their student handbook. To learn about prohibited conduct, including the relevant definitions, read more on the HWS website.

HWS Policies

Hobart and William Smith Colleges are committed to fostering a welcoming, safe, non-discriminatory and harassment-free educational, living, and working environment for all members of the HWS community. The Colleges specifically prohibit Sexual or Gender-Based Harassment, Sexual Assault, Sexual Exploitation, Intimate Partner Violence, Physical Assault, Stalking, and Retaliation. These forms of behavior are referred to in this Policy and accompanying Procedures interchangeably as Prohibited Conduct or Sexual Misconduct. Sexual Misconduct is unlawful and unacceptable in the HWS community and the Colleges will not tolerate such behavior. The full Sexual Misconduct Policy can be found on the HWS website.

Your Title IX Rights

Title IX is a federal law that protects students against sex discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual violence regardless of the student’s real or perceived sex, gender identity, and/or gender expression. If you have been subjected to sexual harassment or sexual violence you have an additional set of rights and protections under Title IX. (Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §1681)

If you believe your Title IX rights have been or are being violated, you can contact your Title IX Coordinator and/or learn how to file a report on the OCR website.