What Is Title IX?
Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 prohibits any person in the United States from being discriminated against on the basis of sex in seeking access to any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. South Arkansas Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its educational programs, activities, admissions practices, or employment. SouthArk's brochure here.
Members of the SouthArk community, guests, and visitors have the right to be free from sexual harassment and misconduct, examples of which can include acts of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. All members of SouthArk are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not infringe upon the rights of others.
SouthArk’s sex/gender harassment, discrimination, and misconduct policies are not meant to inhibit or prohibit educational content or discussions inside or outside of the classroom that include controversial or sensitive subject matters protected by academic freedom or free speech. Academic freedom extends to topics that are pedagogically appropriate and germane to the subject matter of courses or that touch on academic exploration of matters of public concern.
SouthArk uses the preponderance of the evidence (also known as “more likely than not”) as a standard of proof of whether a violation occurred. In campus resolution proceedings legal terms like guilt, innocence and burdens of proof are not applicable, but SouthArk never assumes a responding party is in violation of college policy. Campus resolution proceedings are conducted to take into account the totality of all evidence available from all relevant sources.

Reporting
Go to a safe location, and if injured, seek immediate medical attention. If you are sexually assaulted, you may seek assistance by contacting the following:
Public Safety |
870-864-7125 |
♥ Akouo Counseling
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870-403-7868 |
♥South Arkansas Regional Health Center |
870-862-7921
After Hours/Emergency 1-800-825-1554
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Vice President for Student Services |
870-864-7128 |
♥Turning Point |
870-862-3672 |
♥Women's Crisis Center of South Arkansas |
870-836-0375 |
♥Compassion's Foundation |
Hotline 870-235-1414 (24⁄7) |
Title IX Coordinator |
870-875-7235 |
El Dorado Police Department |
911 for emergency, 870-863-4141 |
♥National Sexual Assault Hotline |
1.800.656.HOPE(4673) |
♥ indicates a confidential resource in most cases.
Red emergency phones are located in Whitfield, the Computer Technology Building, El Dorado Conference and Student Center, and the Library on West Campus. On East Campus, the red phones are located in the Atrium of the Center for Workforce Development and the Student Lobby of the McGehee Building.
Blue light emergency phones are located in the parking lots between the Library and Computer Technology Building, Health Science Building, and El Dorado Conference and Student Center on West Campus.
Blue light emergency phones are located between the McGehee Classroom Building and the Workforce Development Building on East Campus.
If you are off campus and in an emergency situation, call the El Dorado Police Department (911). You may also report the assault directly to the El Dorado Police Department or with the assistance of SouthArk Campus Security Staff.
Confidentiality
The following Officials will provide privacy, but not confidentiality, upon receiving a report of conduct prohibited under this policy:
- Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinator (Bill Fowler, Director, Human Resources/Chief Diversity Officer)
- Dr. Derek Moore, Vice President for Student Services
- Carey Tucker, Vice President for Finance and Administration
- Dr. Michael Murders, Vice President for Academic Affairs
The following Officials may provide confidentiality:
- Sexual Assault Victim Advocate
- Sterling Claypoole, LPC
Policy and Procedure
Responsible Employees
Responsible employees are expected to report all incidents of sex/gender-based misconduct that are reported to them to the Title IX Coordinator. They may do so by clicking on the "Make a Report" button below. SouthArk's responsible employees are:
- Dr. Derek Moore, Vice President for Student Services
- Carey Tucker, Vice President for Finance and Administration
- Dr. Michael Murders, Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Bill Fowler, Deputy Title IX Coordinator/Human Resources Director/Chief Diversity Officer
Listed below are the addresses and contact information for SouthArk's Title IX Coordinator as well as the Office of Civil Rights office for our area:
Vanessa Williams
Title IX Coordinator
300 South West AvenueEl Dorado, AR 71730Telephone: (870) 864-7128Facsimile: (870) 864-7137Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Office for Civil Rights
Dallas Office
U.S. Department of Education
1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1620 Dallas, TX 75201-6810 Telephone: (214) 661-9600 Facsimile: (214) 661-9587 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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SouthArk Investigative Team |
Bill Fowler, Director of Human Resources This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 870-864-7146 Deputy Coordinator
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Brandi Cotterman, Payroll Services Coordinator This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 870-864-7149 Investigator
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Benjamin Cagle, Director of Distance Learning This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 870-864-8467 Investigator
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Cynthia Meyer, Program Director/Professor OTA This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 870-864-7171 Lead Investigator |
Dean Inman, Director of Enrollment Services This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 870-864-7142 Investigator
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Susanne Wache, Professor Natural Sciences This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 870-875-7213 Investigator
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Mobile App

A SMARTPHONE RESOURCE GUIDE FOR THE SOUTHARK COMMUNITY
"Reach Out – College Edition” is a free smartphone resource guide, and since it's an app, Reach Out is convenient and private. You'll never be asked for any identifying information, so using Reach Out is completely anonymous.
INFORMATION THAT'S SPECIFIC TO SOUTHARK’S CAMPUS
Each resource includes a description, complete contact details, and hours. Sub categories make it easy to find resources at the local, state, and national levels.
Click Here for the Android AppClick Here for the Apple App
All incoming and transfer students must either receive Title IX Training in their SAS classes or enroll via blackboard.
Employees may complete annual training by following the instructions below, printing a certificate, and forwarding it to Human Resources.
To self-enroll:
1. From Blackboard, type in "Title IX" in course search box. Click on "Go."
2. From the options menu, click the arrow and select "Enroll."
3. Complete course and click "Submit." You may print a certificate after passing each module.

Training
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