The College has established a Campus Safety Dispatch Center and installed phones throughout the campus to conveniently contact Campus Safety. There are also exterior phones on “Blue Light” posts in several parking lots that connect directly to security.
To report an emergency or request assistance, please choose from one of the following:
Call 911 to be connected to county emergency services dispatch, such as police, fire, or EMS.
Press the red EMERGENCY button on any parking lot “Blue Light” to be automatically connected to the Security Dispatcher.
Call Campus Safety at 973-300-2222 (or ext. 2222 internally).
Non-emergencies should be reported to Campus Safety at 973-300-2222 (or ext. 2222 internally).
The College does not assume responsibility for the cost of any emergency service assistance. Payment for services rendered is the responsibility of the individual receiving the service, not the College. Sussex Campus Security will assist the student in contacting an emergency service provider.
In the event of campus closures, for any reason, students, staff, and faculty can access several communication outlets for information related to that closing, including the sussex.edu website, your college email, text messaging (depending on the notification you signed up for), and the College Facebook page. Students attending classes at area high schools should check with those schools in the event of weather-related closings.
In the event of a delayed opening, a class that would have an hour or more of class time left will still meet. All classes held at extension sites (i.e., high schools) will be closed for evening Sussex classes if the extension site was closed during the day for snow or emergency. Online class activities will take place as scheduled even when the main campus is closed due to inclement weather. Students in online courses should understand that assignments should be submitted online at the scheduled time, even in instances where the main campus is closed due to inclement weather.
Campus delayed openings or closings due to emergencies or severe weather are communicated in the following ways:
Sussex utilizes a broadcast alerting service, Regroup, to communicate information to students, faculty, staff, and other campus community members. Regroup sends mobile text alerts, an email, and/or recorded voice messages to participating students, faculty, and staff.
All Regroup subscribers will receive emergency broadcast messages. All registered Sussex students should sign up for the Regroup Mass Notification to receive important College notifications and weather closings.
Regroup does not charge subscribers to receive SMS messages. Messaging charges may apply, depending upon your wireless carrier plan.
In addition to Regroup, Sussex also uses Alertus Desktop to override computer displays across the Sussex network with critical alert messages. In an emergency, computers are overridden with a full-screen alert containing an Emergency Alert notification. The message will advise recipients of the emergency and instruct them on what procedures they should employ to safeguard themselves.
All Sussex buildings are equipped with a PA emergency notification system and fire alarms. In the event of an emergency or fire/smoke, or any other situation which requires evacuation of the buildings, the PA system will notify the campus, and fire alarms will sound.
At the sound of the PA system or fire alarm, all faculty, staff, and students are required to evacuate the building. A non-audible fire warning system has been installed to alert those who are deaf or hearing impaired that an emergency warning has been issued. The system features a flashing blue strobe light which signals the need to evacuate the building.
Campus Safety has also established emergency rescue areas for those who need assistance exiting the building. If an emergency on the Sussex campus requires the use of evacuation procedures, it is necessary that the College have information about individuals who may need assistance during such an event. If a student has any condition that may endanger themselves or others in an emergency should call the Student Accessibilities Services Coordinator, located in the Student Success Center, at 973-300-2153 to be sure that you are included in the security information. Those individuals should proceed to the emergency rescue areas located on their floor, where emergency personnel will assist. This information will be strictly confidential and available only to those who need it during an emergency.
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How To Respond When an Active |
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Step |
Action |
Notes |
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1 |
Run – Evacuate |
• Have an escape route and plan in mind • Leave your belongings behind • Keep your hands visible |
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2 |
Hide – Lockdown |
• Hide in an area out of the shooter’s view • Block entry to your hiding place and lock the doors • Silence your cell phone and/or pager |
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3 |
Fight – Take Action |
• As a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger • Attempt to incapacitate the shooter • Act with physical aggression and throw items at the active shooter |
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When it is safe to do so, call 9-1-1. In active shooter situations, fire alarms may be activated. Remember that the active shooter threat is the primary threat. When in lockdown, you should only evacuate when there are visible signs of fire. |
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Evacuation |
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Step |
Action |
Notes |
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1 |
At the sound of the fire alarm, immediately evacuate the building:
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Take attendance at the start of class, and take the roster when you evacuate to the Evacuation Assembly Area. |
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2 |
Assemble in the designated Evacuation Assembly Area:
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If occupants are not permitted to re-enter the building, they may use their automobile to leave the campus. |
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3 |
If a physically challenged occupant is unable to exit the building:
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Emergency Personnel will evacuate the disabled person. |
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4 |
If circumstances prevent you from evacuating the building:
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The receptionist can call for assistance via two-way radio. |
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CALL FOR ASSISTANCE |
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Step |
Action |
Notes |
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1 |
Call 911 |
If your judgment warrants such action, call 911 first and notify security to alert the First Response Team. |
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2 |
Call Campus Safety or Use the blue phones located in parking lots. |
Campus Safety will respond to the scene if necessary. They may also notify the county emergency dispatch. |
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3 |
Be prepared to state: |
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4 |
Stay with any victim(s) until help arrives, but only if you can safely do so without endangering yourself. |
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LOCK-DOWN |
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Step |
Action |
Notes |
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1 |
Lock doors and windows, and close shades.
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• Do not admit anyone into the room once the door is locked. |
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2 |
Move to a safe corner of the room.
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• The safest area in each room will be different. The optimal location is out of the line of sight of someone outside the room. |
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3 |
Remain in position
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Emergency Phone Numbers |
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Person |
Phone Number |
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Security |
• Blue phones in parking lots connect directly to Campus Safety |
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Receptionist |
• 973-300-2104 |
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| County 911 Dispatch |
• 911 |
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In accord with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 USC 794), Titles I and II of the regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 USC 12101 et seq.) and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (N.J.S.A. 10:5-4), Sussex County Community College will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of HIV status. No one will be denied admission, employment, promotion in employment, housing, access to facilities, or fair treatment on the basis of HIV status, nor will the institution tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment.
All offices, departments, agencies, and members of Sussex County Community College are required to comply with federal and state laws protecting patient/client confidentiality and the confidentiality of medical records and HIV/AIDS test results.
Sussex County Community College recognizes that no one has the “right to know” information regarding another person’s HIV status, regardless of the circumstances or the person requesting such information, e.g., administrators, personal representatives, professors, and students. Implementation of Center for Disease Control (CDC) universal precautions and OSHA standards governing blood-borne pathogens should be sufficient to protect all members of the Sussex County Community College community from potential HIV/AIDS infection resulting from bleeding accidents.
Members of Sussex County Community College should be advised that violation of federal and state statutes protecting confidentiality may result in fines, liability, and anti-discrimination suits. In the absence of a cure, the first response to the HIV epidemic must be education. Sussex County Community College recognizes its responsibility and is committed to providing HIV/AIDS education to all members of its community. In acknowledging the dignity and intrinsic value of every member of the Sussex County Community College Community, Sussex encourages all its members to educate themselves and their peers concerning HIV/AIDS, to become actively involved in supporting and participating in HIV/AIDS prevention education and awareness activities and to join in supporting persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Your safety at Sussex County Community College is one of our top priorities. For its commitment to student safety, the college has received top honors from the School Alliance Insurance Fund.
Campus Safety Officers utilize foot and vehicle patrols to observe and report situations or activities that may pose a danger to persons or property. The Campus Safety Office is located in the Student Center (D Building). Security can be reached at 973-300-2222.
Campus Security Officers are not armed and do not have police powers, but they will assist you by responding to all complaints and emergencies on campus. If warranted, Security shall contact emergency services for Police, Fire, or EMS Response. Security Officers have received First Aid, CPR, and AED training in addition to instruction in campus public safety procedures. These Security Officers report to the Director of Campus Safety and Security, who may be reached at 973-300-2119.
The College has a cooperative relationship with the Newton Police Department, in which their officers periodically patrol the campus roadways and parking facilities, maintaining public order, crime prevention, and providing for the enforcement of local and state laws.
The campus is closed from 10 pm to 6 am except for approved special events. Building accessibility is permitted only during normal business hours unless otherwise approved by a College administrator.
Any incident regarding safety or security on the Sussex County Community College campus should be reported to Campus Safety at 973-300-2222.
Campus Safety will respond to all complaints. All reports of crime will be fully recorded, investigated, and reported in accordance with the definitions used in the Uniform Crime Reporting Systems of the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Sussex will issue Timely Warnings to alert the campus community to certain crimes that are reported to campus safety authorities or local police agencies and are considered by Sussex to represent a threat to students and employees. The College President, or their designee, will decide, and all emergency notifications will be used. Timely Warnings will not include the victims’ name(s).
Use the Newton Police Department’s Text-A-Tip program to report a crime tip and remain anonymous. No one will know the tipster's identity. The technology routes messages through a server that encrypts cell phone numbers before they reach the police. It also allows investigators to reply securely to the cell phone without compromising the tipster’s identity.
Send Text Message tips to: CRIMES (274-637). Use the keyword: NEWTON
In addition, the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office maintains a confidential “Crime Stoppers” hotline, which can be reached at 973-300-CRIME (2746).
These services are for reporting tips to aid in investigations, not for reporting crimes in progress. To report a crime in progress, call 911.
Campus security precautions and crime statistics can be obtained on our website in compliance with the federal 1990 Students Right to Know Act; this report is made available to prospective students and employees, as well as current students and employees at Sussex.
Sussex County Community College is committed to the premise that its students and employees shall learn and work in a drug and alcohol-free environment. Sussex in no way will condone the illicit use of alcohol and drugs by either its employees or its students and will not foster or promote any such activity. In accordance with the policy approved by the Board of Trustees of Sussex County Community College (initially adopted: February 20, 1990, revised: August 28, 1990) and in accordance with public Law 101-226, the College declares that it will make every effort to provide its students and employees with an environment that is free of the problems associated with the unauthorized use and abuse of alcohol and illegal drugs. The College is committed to promoting its students' and employees' wellness and positive self-development. The unauthorized use and abuse of alcohol and the illegal use and abuse of drugs inhibit students and employees from attaining the benefit of their learning and/or work experience, expose them to serious illness and health risks, and therefore, are prohibited. The College will impose disciplinary sanctions on students and employees that may include expulsion or termination of employment and referral for prosecution for violations of the standard of conduct. Such disciplinary sanctions may include the completion of a rehabilitation program. More detailed information and College policies can be found at the end of this handbook under “Employee and Student Program to Prevent Illicit Use of Drugs and Abuse of Alcohol.”
Information on registered sex offenders may be obtained from the Sussex County Prosecutors Office, Megan’s Law Unit at 973-383-1570 or at www.NJSP.org. See also Megan’s Law Requirements.
The College will not tolerate sexual assault in any form. Where there is probable cause to believe that college regulations prohibiting sexual assault have been violated, the College will pursue strong disciplinary action through its student conduct and due process procedures. This discipline includes the possibility of suspension or dismissal from the College. An individual charged with sexual assault can be prosecuted under New Jersey criminal statutes and disciplined under Sussex County Community College’s institutional policies. Even if the criminal justice authorities choose not to prosecute, the College can pursue disciplinary action.
The Federal Government defines “sexual assault” to mean any kind of non-consensual violence, including but not limited to rape, acquaintance rape, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Rape and acquaintance rape is defined as acts of non-consensual sexual penetration.
The other acts are defined as follows:
Consent in this policy means a clear YES to the specific act in question. Consent is informed, knowing, and voluntary. Consent is active, not passive. Silence, in and of itself, cannot be interpreted as consent. Consent to one form of sexual activity cannot imply consent to future sexual acts. At any time, a participant can communicate that they no longer consent to continue the activity. Consent cannot be procured by use of physical force, compelling threats, intimidating behavior, or coercion.
Sussex provides educational programs related to awareness and prevention of sexual assault. Annually, the Student Success Center provides workshops on prevention, and the Office of Campus Life provides workshops on safety and health, and wellness. A number of workshops and seminars, documentaries and film series, and survivor panels are held on campus in collaboration with Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Intervention Services (DASI) of Sussex County and with the Center for Prevention and Counseling of Newton, NJ. Presentations for faculty and staff on sexual violence and trauma are scheduled. The Clothesline Project, a domestic violence awareness program, is held every April in the Student Center.
Campus Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights Introduction: A college or university in a free society must be devoted to pursuing truth and knowledge through reason and open communication among its members. Academic communities acknowledge the necessity of being intellectually stimulating where the diversity of ideas is valued. Its rules must be conceived for the purpose of furthering and protecting the rights of all members of the university community in achieving these ends.
The boundaries of personal freedom are limited by applicable state and federal laws and institutional rules and regulations governing interpersonal behavior. In creating a community free from violence, sexual assault, and non-consensual sexual contact, respect for the individual and human dignity are of paramount importance.
The State of New Jersey recognizes that the impact of violence on its victims and the surrounding community can be severe and long-lasting. Thus, it has established this Bill of Rights to articulate requirements for policies, procedures, and services designed to ensure that the needs of victims are met and that the colleges and universities in New Jersey create and maintain communities that support human dignity.
The following Rights shall be accorded to victims of sexual assault that occur:
First, you should get to a place of safety.
Next, get the necessary medical treatment.
A DASI Confidential Sexual Violence Advocate can be with you during medical and legal proceedings. Call 973-875-1211 for an advocate or to activate the Sussex County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).
According to the DASI.org website, it is important that you:
A complete physical examination is very important. Victims of sexual assault may not be aware of external and internal injuries that may require treatment. Early medical attention is necessary to test for and possibly prevent sexually transmitted diseases or infections. If left untreated, sexually transmitted infections/venereal diseases may result in serious health problems. Early medical attention is necessary to test for and receive treatment to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
Follow-up care is very important to ensure that injuries have healed properly and that sexually transmitted infections are treated appropriately. Tests for infections and pregnancy must be repeated.
For campus crime statistics, a copy of the Annual Security Report can be obtained from our website.
A forensic kit is typically used within 5 days to collect evidence from the victim’s body (the earlier, the better). This evidence can be used to prosecute the offender. The victim may have the forensic kit done anonymously, and the evidence can be held for 90 days. There is no cost associated with forensic evidence collection and initial treatment.
There are multiple places for students to report allegations of sexual assault both on and off campus. Reports of sexual assault can be made to any of the following:
On Campus
Off-Campus
These resources exist on campus and in the community for reporting allegations of sexual assault and obtaining appropriate medical treatment and counseling support services:
On Campus
Off-Campus
Information packets on the Bill of Rights and access to resources for assistance are available in the Office of Student Affairs, Student Success Center, Athletic Office, Human Resources, and the Office of Campus Safety and Security.
Lost and Found is located in the Campus Safety Office in the Student Center (D Building). All items should be delivered to this location for owner identification and retrieval.
ATTENTION: All Persons Previously Convicted of Sex-Related Offenses
This is to inform you that, due to amendments to the New Jersey Megan’s Law statutes, you may, under penalty of law, be required to register your presence in Sussex County regardless of where or when your conviction occurred.
In addition to all other Megan’s Law requirements, if the following circumstances apply to you, please contact your local police department.
Please contact your own attorney, the local police department, Sussex Station of the New Jersey State Police, or the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office to determine whether you must register. (Published at the request of the County Prosecutor)
Prior to the current pandemic, the College had allowed some leeway to faculty and offices to permit minors to accompany custodial students or staff on campus. Until further notice, minors will not be allowed to accompany custodial students or staff on campus.
The College is dedicated to ensuring the safety, protection, and well-being of all individuals on campus, as well as maintaining an academic environment conducive to learning. As such, minors may not be brought to the Campus and then left unattended on the grounds, in automobiles or in any facility owned, leased, or used by the College or its authorized agents. The College does not permit minors to accompany students to classes except at the discretion of individual faculty members. For safety purposes, minors who are not enrolled in specific programs of study are not allowed in science laboratory settings or technology labs, including but not limited to automotive, cosmetology, welding, machine tool, culinary arts, and building construction, under any circumstances. Unattended minors, once identified by college personnel, will be reported to security. Parents or guardians will be identified and notified by security to either remain with the minor, escort them from the College Campus, or make other suitable arrangements consistent with this policy’s requirements.
Sussex County Community College provides parking for students, faculty, and staff in marked parking lots for convenient access to buildings on both the upper and lower campuses. Parking is free; however, students, faculty, and staff park at their own risk and are required to have a parking decal displayed.
Parking regulations are enforced by Campus Security and supported by Newton Police Department, and summonses will be issued for violations. All students, faculty, and staff planning to have a vehicle on campus must register for a parking sticker at the Campus Safety Office in the Student Center. A separate parking sticker is required for each vehicle. The sticker does not guarantee or reserve a parking space. Parking is on a “first come” basis. The College is not responsible for lost or stolen items or damage to vehicles. Be sure to lock your vehicle and place any packages or valuables in the trunk or out of sight.
Visitor parking is provided on the lower campus in Lot 2. Visitors must register at the Main Desk in the Administration Building. At no time are students, faculty or staff permitted to park in the Visitor Parking.
If you need Campus Security to escort you to or from your car or another building/location on campus, you may request this from any security officer on patrol or call our direct, non-emergency number at 973-300-2222.
You may also use the black non-emergency info button on our parking areas' Emergency Code Blue units. The On-Campus Safety Escort program is available to the entire College community (students, faculty, staff, and visitors) who would like an officer to escort them to/from a campus building or location for any reason.
This service is for campus and not off-campus property.
There is no absolute protection against crime, but the Office of Student Affairs would like to offer some warnings and precautions that you can take to help you avoid becoming a victim.
Pets and/or other animals are prohibited from all College buildings except for registered service animals. Pets and/or other animals must be leashed and are prohibited from being left in automobiles, tethered on campus, or otherwise endangered. Pet owners or custodians are expected to maintain proper hygiene by removing all waste material.
Sexual harassment is illegal. Both state and federal laws prohibit harassment of any employee, student, agent, or member of the College community by any executive, supervisor, employee, student, or visitor on the basis of sex or gender. Sexual harassment is defined under federal law as: “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:
Any employee or student who sexually harasses another employee, student, agent, or member of the College community will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, consistent with terms of collective bargaining agreements, as applicable, or expulsion of the student.
The purpose of this policy is to ensure a positive work and learning environment for all employees and students free from the effects of sexual harassment which may produce a hostile, unproductive work environment.
This policy also prohibits consensual amorous relationships or physically intimate relationships between a faculty or staff member and a student whenever the faculty or staff member is in a position of professional or supervisory responsibility with respect to the student. This includes, but is not limited to, faculty and student, staff and student, coach and player and supervisor and student worker.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs. It reads:
“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” –Legal Citation: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 (Title IX)
While often thought of as a law that applies to athletics programs, Title IX is much broader than athletics and applies to many programs at Sussex County Community College. Compliance with the law is everyone’s responsibility at Sussex County Community College. For information on how to contact staff members who have primary responsibility for Title IX compliance, click here.
It is the policy of Sussex County Community College that all students and staff shall be able to learn and work in an environment free from harassment and discrimination.
Sussex County Community College encourages anyone who has experienced sexual misconduct, such as sex or gender-based discrimination, harassment, sexual violence, bullying or stalking, to report the incidence directly to the Title IX Coordinator or the Title IX Team. At Sussex, you can expect to have incidents of sexual misconduct taken seriously and can be assured that each individual will be treated with dignity and respect. Formally reported incidents are investigated promptly, thoroughly, and equitably and resolved through appropriate measures. Formal reporting means that information discovered and provided is shared with investigators, witnesses, and the accused individual, as necessary, with tremendous care.
In addition to the Title IX Coordinator, there are other members of the campus staff known as “Mandated Reporters”. Mandated Reporters are non-Confidential Employees who either have authority to institute corrective measures on the College’s behalf or have responsibility for administrative leadership, teaching, or advising in the College’s education program or activity. Most members of the College community who are considered Mandated Reporters and include (but are not limited to):
Mandated Reporters are required to notify the Title IX Coordinator or designee if they have information about conduct that may reasonably constitute sex discrimination, including sex-based harassment. Talking with any of these individuals constitutes a report to the College and will therefore be shared with the Title IX Coordinator.
Disclosure of different types of sexual misconduct shared with a “Mandated Reporter” must be reported promptly to the Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator works collaboratively with the reporting individual and makes every effort to operate with discretion and maintain the privacy of all parties involved. Confidential Resources keep your identity and information private and anonymous. Counselors are confidential resources. Counseling Services are located in The Student Success Center, Room B206, 973-300-2207.
To report an incident, you may contact any of the following:
EMERGENCIES: DIAL 911
Sussex Campus Safety and Security: (973) 300-2222/2103
Title IX Coordinator:
Stacie Caputo, Human Resources Director,
Student Center (D Building), Room 313
Telephone: (973) 300-2772
Email: scaputo@sussex.edu
The SCCC Title IX Team
Sussex County Community College has a team of trained employees who are available to assist in cases of sexual misconduct such as sexual harassment, sexual violence, discrimination, or other unwelcome behavior that occurs on campus or during activities related to school, such as athletic events.
When an incident of gender-based misconduct occurs, SCCC promptly, equitably, and thoroughly investigates under the parameters of Title IX. Overseeing the team of trained employees is the College’s Title IX Coordinator. This person is responsible for supervising all activities relating to Title IX investigations, activities, and training programs.
Responsibilities of the Coordinator include:
Sussex County Community College’s Full Title IX Policy and Procedures.
The College is a smoke, tobacco, and vape-free campus. Tobacco, e-cigarettes (including vapor devices), and tobacco products are banned from all campus buildings and facilities. Smoking on campus is only permitted when inside personal vehicles.
Students who fail to comply with the policy may be fined and/or disciplined progressively consistent with the Student Code of Conduct. Visitors who fail to comply will be escorted off campus. Students may be ticketed for violations of this policy. Anyone suspected of violating this policy may be asked to present identification to security. Failure to comply may result in further disciplinary action.
Weapons, ammunition, fireworks, and other explosives are prohibited on College property, or at any other location where the College offers courses or sponsors events.
This policy does not apply to active law enforcement personnel whose authority and/or requirement to carry firearms is regulated by a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency. We request that law enforcement personnel contact Security and advise them of their presence on campus.
