Title VI Overview
“No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
DCC complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protects people against discrimination based on race, color or national origin in programs that receive federal financial assistance. Discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin includes discrimination based on a person’s actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ethnicity, or ancestry. This includes discrimination based on the country, world region, or place where a person or his or her ancestors come from; a person’s limited English proficiency or English learner status; or a person’s actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, including membership in a religion that may be perceived to exhibit such characteristics (such as Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh individuals).
Please contact titleVI@sunydutchess.edu if you have any questions or concerns regarding Title VI compliance at DCC.
Where to Report a Violation or Submit an Inquiry
If you want more information about Dutchess Community College's Title VI Program, or if you have questions or concerns regarding Title VI compliance at DCC, please contact titleVI@sunydutchess.edu. You can also use this online form to report an incident.
Primary contact:
Felicia Ellzy-Smith, Director of Diversity and Compliance
Bowne Hall, Room 220A
53 Pendell Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845) 431-8906
Alternatively, reports or inquiries may be submitted through the appropriate reporting form below. Dutchess Community College is committed to ensuring a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all students, faculty, and staff. If you have experienced or witnessed discrimination, harassment, or misconduct, you are encouraged to report it.
You have the option to submit a report anonymously or confidentially:
Anonymous Reports: You do not need to provide your name or contact information. Please note that this may limit the college’s ability to respond or investigate.
Confidential Reports: You may provide your information and request confidentiality. A member of the college may follow up with you on this report as part of the institutional response. The college will respect privacy to the fullest extent possible while addressing the concern.
When completing the form, please select indicate your report falls under Title VI so it can be reviewed by the appropriate office.
If you believe you have, individually or as a member of any specific class of persons, been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, income level or Limited English Proficiency, you have the right to file a formal complaint.
Title VI Resources
- U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Education and Title VI
- Title VI and Religion
- Discrimination based on Shared Ancestry or Ethnic Characteristics
- Related Notices from the Department of Education
- SUNY Fact Sheet: Committing to a Strong Campus Climate (October 2024)
Please contact titleVI@sunydutchess.edu if you have any questions or concerns regarding Title VI compliance at DCC.