Section 132F-121-010. Definitions and general provisions.

For purposes of this chapter:

(1)(a) Bullying. Bullying is defined as the repeated use by one or more students of a written, verbal or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof, directed at another student or staff that:

(i) Intentionally causes physical or emotional imminent harm to the student or damage to the student's property;

(ii) Places the student in reasonable fear of harm to herself or himself or of damage to the student's property;

(iii) Creates an unlawful hostile environment at school for the student;

(iv) Infringes on the rights of the student at school; or

(v) Is conduct that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to cause material disruption to the ability of a student to participate or benefit in the education program.

(b) Cyber misconduct. Cyberstalking, cyberbullying or online harassment. Use of electronic communications including, but not limited to, electronic mail, instant messaging, electronic bulletin boards, and social media sites, to harass, abuse, bully or engage in other conduct which harms, threatens, or is reasonably perceived as threatening the health or safety of another person. Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to, unauthorized monitoring of another's e-mail communications directly or through spyware, sending threatening e-mails, disrupting electronic communications with spam or by sending a computer virus, sending false messages to third parties using another's e-mail identity, nonconsensual recording, including images or videos of a sexual nature, and nonconsensual distribution of such material.

(c) Stalking. Stalking is intentional and repeated following of another person, which places that person in reasonable fear that the perpetrator intends to injure, intimidate or harass that person. Stalking also includes instances where the perpetrator knows or reasonably should know that person is frightened, intimidated or harassed, even if the perpetrator lacks such an intent.

(2) Sexual misconduct. The term "sexual misconduct" includes sexual harassment, sexual intimidation, sexual violence, and domestic violence.

(a) Sexual harassment. The term "sexual harassment" means unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is sufficiently serious as to deny or limit, and that does deny or limit, based on sex, the ability of a student to participate in or benefit from the college's educational program or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for other campus community members.

(b) Sexual intimidation. The term "sexual intimidation" incorporates the definition of "sexual harassment" and means threatening or emotionally distressing conduct based on sex including, but not limited to, nonconsensual recording of sexual activity or the distribution of such recording.

(c) Sexual violence. Sexual violence is a type of sexual discrimination and harassment. Nonconsensual sexual intercourse, nonconsensual sexual contact, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are all types of sexual violence.

(i) Nonconsensual sexual intercourse is any sexual intercourse (anal, oral, or vaginal), however slight, with any object, by a person upon another person, that is without consent and/or by force. Sexual intercourse includes anal or vaginal penetration by a penis, tongue, finger, or object, or oral copulation by mouth to genital contact or genital to mouth contact.

(ii) Nonconsensual sexual contact is any intentional sexual touching, however slight, with any object, by a person upon another person that is without consent and/or by force. Sexual touching includes any bodily contact with the breasts, groin, mouth, or other bodily orifice of another individual, or any other bodily contact in a sexual manner.

(iii) Domestic violence as defined in (d) of this subsection.

(iv) Dating violence means violence by a person who has been in a romantic or intimate relationship with the victim, and includes conduct that causes emotional, psychological, physical, and sexual trauma. Whether there was such relationship will be gauged by its length, type, and frequency of interaction.

(v) Stalking as defined in subsection (1)(c) of this section.

(vi) Consent: Knowing, voluntary and clear permission by word or action, to engage in mutually agreed upon sexual activity. Each party has the responsibility to make certain that the other has consented before engaging in the activity. For consent to be valid, there must be at the time of the act of sexual intercourse or sexual contact actual words or conduct indicating freely given agreement to have sexual intercourse or sexual contact.

A person cannot consent if he or she is unable to understand what is happening or is disoriented, helpless, asleep or unconscious for any reason, including due to alcohol or other drugs. An individual who engages in sexual activity when the individual knows, or should know, that the other person is physically or mentally incapacitated has engaged in nonconsensual conduct.

Intoxication is not a defense against allegations that an individual has engaged in nonconsensual sexual conduct.

(d) Domestic violence. Domestic violence includes asserted violent misdemeanor and felony offenses committed by the victim's current or former spouse, current or former cohabitant, person similarly situated under domestic or family violence law, or anyone else protected under domestic or family violence law, and, includes conduct that causes emotional, psychological, physical, and sexual trauma.

(3) The terms "college" and "campus" are used interchangeably, and each refers to any of the district's three colleges, North Seattle College, Seattle Central College, and South Seattle College. The Seattle Vocational Institute is considered to be part of Seattle Central College.

(4) "Day" means calendar day, unless specified otherwise, and deadlines shall be computed in accordance with WAC 10-08-080.

(5) "District" means the sixth state college district, the district administrative offices (Siegal Center), North Seattle College, Seattle Central College, South Seattle College, the Seattle Vocational Institute, and/or every other District VI educational facility, each separately and all together.

(6) "District community" includes, but is not limited to, the district itself and all enrolled students, employees, officers, and invitees of the district.

(7) "District property" includes all real property, buildings, and other facilities that are owned, leased, or controlled by the district or by the state for district purposes.

(8) "Vice-president for student services" means the person whom a college president has appointed to that position or has otherwise designated to perform the functions ascribed to that position in this chapter.

(9) An action or activity that may be authorized or taken by the district chancellor, a vice chancellor, a campus president, or a campus vice-president may also be authorized or taken by any other person whom that officer has specifically designated to perform that function on his/her behalf, but this officer retains responsibility for the function.

(10) After the adoption of these rules, if a statute or rule to which they refer is renumbered or otherwise amended, these rules shall be interpreted to the fullest extent possible to incorporate such amendment while still giving effect to their original purposes.

(11) Service of any document, notice, or copy under this chapter shall be made (a) by personal delivery, (b) by mailing to the recipient's last known address, which service shall be regarded as complete upon deposit in the U.S. mail properly stamped and addressed, or (c) as otherwise authorized by law or rule.

(12) The term "student" includes all persons taking courses at the district, either full-time or part-time. Persons who withdraw after allegedly violating the student code, who are not officially enrolled for a particular term but who have a continuing relationship with the district, or who have been notified of their acceptance for admission are considered "students" as are persons who are living in district resident halls, although not enrolled at the district.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.50.140(13). WSR 16-04-025, § 132F-121-010, filed 1/25/16, effective 2/25/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.50.140(13) and 42.56.040. WSR 15-02-072, § 132F-121-010, filed 1/6/15, effective 2/6/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.50.140(13). WSR 13-11-127, § 132F-121-010, filed 5/21/13, effective 6/21/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.50.100, [28B.50].130, and/or [28B.50].140. WSR 03-16-015, § 132F-121-010, filed 7/28/03, effective 8/28/03.]

RCW 28B.50.140(13). WSR 16-04-025, § 132F-121-010, filed 1/25/16, effective 2/25/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.50.140(13) and 42.56.040. WSR 15-02-072, § 132F-121-010, filed 1/6/15, effective 2/6/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.50.140(13). WSR 13-11-127, § 132F-121-010, filed 5/21/13, effective 6/21/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.50.100, [28B.50].130, and/or [28B.50].140. WSR 03-16-015, § 132F-121-010, filed 7/28/03, effective 8/28/03.

Rules

10-08-080,