Resources for Support and Help
The health and safety of campus community members is the College’s primary concern. Call 911 if you or another member of the KSC community is in immediate danger.
A victim/survivor of sexual misconduct or relationship violence may experience many conflicting emotions including shock, fear, anger, guilt, shame, or numbness. Each survivor’s response is unique. Often people find that their eating, sleeping, exercise, self-care or social patterns have changed. They find themselves isolating from others or being unable to concentrate on work or schoolwork. Whether someone chooses to report their experience or not, talking with a counselor or a trusted friend or family member can be very helpful.
Confidential Counseling
Keene State College has support resources with professional and legal mandates to protect the confidentiality of the information disclosed by a person impacted by sexual misconduct and/or relationship violence. These resources are not required to report what is shared with them to the College or law enforcement personnel:
- The Wellness Center (Counseling Services and Health Services); located on the 3rd floor of the Elliot Center; 603-358-2200 (business hours; after hours 24/7 Counseling 603-358-2436)
Title IX Office
Any member of the Keene State College community (including students, faculty, and staff) who has concerns about sexual assault, gender-based harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, sexual exploitation, or sexual harassment is encouraged to contact the Title IX Coordinator.
The Title IX Office is located at 48 Butler Court and can be reached at 603-358-2010. You can also report incidents of sexual or relationship violence online via this reporting form.
View Keene State’s Policy on Title IX and other gender-based sexual misconduct here.
Specifically, contact the Title IX Coordinator if you:
- want to understand your options if you think you may have experienced sexual misconduct
- learn of a situation that you think may warrant a College investigation
- need help with how to handle a situation that indirectly affects you (for example, if it involves a friend, colleague, or teammate)
- want guidance on possible supportive or administrative measures to de-escalate or alleviate a difficult situation
- have questions about Keene State College’s policies and procedures
If you want to disclose sexual misconduct or relationship violence to a confidential source, you should speak with a licensed counselor. Information shared with certified counselors is generally legally protected from further disclosure as confidential or privileged communications and cannot be disclosed absent extraordinary circumstances. At Keene State, confidential services are available through the Wellness Center- Counseling Services (3rd floor Elliot).
The Title IX Coordinator will seek to protect the privacy of the individuals involved in any report of alleged sexual misconduct, harassment, or relationship violence to the extent possible and allowable by law. The Title IX Coordinator cannot guarantee absolute confidentiality.
View the Title IX Office’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page here.
MCVP: Crisis and Prevention Center
MCVP: Crisis and Prevention Center provides confidential crisis intervention services for people who have experienced relationship violence, stalking, and sexual violence, including sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and child abuse. They provide confidential crisis intervention services, including medical, legal and court advocacy, financial advocacy, crisis counseling, safety planning, and referrals to other resources. They provide secondary support for an individual’s friends and family, emergency shelter, and Housing First. Their advocates may also be able to help qualifying victim/survivors with unbundled or pro bono legal services, financial compensation, access to food, clothing, and transportation. MCVP is oftentimes on campus facilitating sexual misconduct prevention education and can meet students on campus for counseling.
- MCVP: Crisis and Prevention Center 24hr confidential hotline: 1-888-511-6287 or 603-352-3782
MCVP: Crisis and Prevention Center is also KSC’s designated confidential resource advisor. A confidential resource advisor is a trained, confidential person who can advise students on their options, including reporting availability, on-campus resources, and off-campus resources. Confidential resource advisors provide students with additional support they need and are not obligated to report to the College.
Keene State Campus Safety and Keene Police Department
Campus Safety is available 24/7 to take a report and provide support regarding sexual misconduct or relationship violence, regardless of where or when the incident occurred. If desired by the reporting party, Campus Safety will provide a same-sex officer to record the report. The reporting student may have an advisor or advocate with them during any interviews or meetings with College officials.
- Campus Safety is located in Keddy House and can be contacted at: 603-358-2228.
Keene State College maintains a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Keene Police Department. This memorandum outlines the coordinated process and rights and responsibilities that will be followed if the reporting party wishes to file a concurrent report with the Keene Police Department.
- Contact the Keene Police Department by calling 911 or the non-emergency line at: 603-357-9813.
The College may issue a campus alert (without identifying the reporting individual) in situations where the College believes there is an imminent threat posed to the campus community. All actions taken, including the possible release of a timely warning to the community, will be designed to protect the reporting individual’s identity.
uSafeUS App
The free and confidential uSafeUS app provides Keene State students with information about college and community resources and supports regarding sexual and relationship violence as well as easy-to-use tools to help them and their friends exit uncomfortable situations and get home safely. Search “uSafeUS” in the App Store or on Google Play to download for free today. Once downloaded, search for Keene State.
Specific Sexual and Relationship Violence Information and Resources
- Keene State’s Domestic and Relationship Violence Brochure
- Keene State’s Stalking Brochure
- Keene State’s Sexual Assault Brochure
National Resources
- National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673
- National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233
- The Network La Red (LGTBQIA+ relationship violence hotline) 1-800-832-1901
- Safe Horizon Stalking Hotline 1-800-621-4673
- National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888
- StrongHearts Native Helpline 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483)
- Love is Respect Hotline 1-866-331-9474
Medical Considerations
Individuals may wish to seek medical attention. Along with treatment of injuries, prompt medical examinations can test for pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), and provide post exposure treatment for HIV.
A forensic examination can also secure valuable evidence that could be used later if a person wishes to involve law enforcement. Physical evidence may exist up to five (5) days, or longer, after a sexual assault or rape, though individuals are recommended to receive an examination as soon as possible. Local medical facilities can arrange to have a specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) conduct a forensic examination, which collects evidence from a person’s body, clothes, and other belongings. A trained advocate can meet a victim/survivor at the hospital to provide emotional support, which would be arranged by the hospital. The results of this examination can be provided to law enforcement anonymously. Transportation to and from a Keene, New Hampshire medical center is available through the Department of Campus Safety, if requested, by students or employees who have experienced sexual or relationship violence.
- Cheshire Medical Center: 580 Court St, Keene, NH 03431: (603) 354-6600
- Monadnock Community Hospital: 452 Old Street Rd, Peterborough, NH 03458; (603) 924-7191
When an individual seeks a forensic examination at a hospital, the Office of the Attorney General will pay the cost for medical expenses, including the physical examination, provided the experience is reported to the police. Other expenses related to the incident may also be provided at no cost to the individual through the Victim’s Compensation Program. Specific information on expenses is available through MCVP: Crisis and Prevention Center.
The College’s Wellness Center does not perform forensic exams but medical staff are happy to meet with students to discuss why these are important and to facilitate how to get a forensic exam.
Supportive, Interim, and Protective Measures
Supportive Measures: The College offers non-disciplinary, non-punitive individualized services as appropriate, as reasonably available, and without fee or charge to a Complainant or a Respondent before or after the filing of a Formal Complaint or where no Formal Complaint has been filed, and regardless of whether the individual chooses to file a Formal Complaint.
Supportive measures are designed to restore or preserve equal access to Keene State’s education programs or activities, including but not limited to protecting the safety of all parties or the College’s educational or employment environment or to deter conduct prohibited under this policy. Supportive measures will not unreasonably burden the other party.
Supportive measures may include referrals to counseling; extensions of deadlines or other course- related adjustments; modifications of work or class schedules; mutual no contact orders; changes in work or housing locations; leaves of absence; increased security and monitoring of certain areas of the campus; and other similar measures as deemed appropriate.
To the extent possible, the College will not disclose the provision of supportive measures except when necessary to provide the supportive measures.
Emergency Removal of Students: The College may remove any student from its program or activity on an emergency basis if there is an immediate threat to the physical safety of any students or other individuals arising from allegations under this Policy. Prior to removal, the College will undertake an individualized safety and risk analysis, and, where such analysis determines a credible safety risk exists, provide the party with notice and an opportunity to challenge the decision immediately following the removal.
Additional information regarding emergency removal procedures and the appeal process may be obtained by contacting the Title IX Coordinator.
Administrative Leave of Employees: The College may place non-student employees on administrative leave prior to or following the filing of a Formal Complaint and through final resolution of the formal grievance process. Any actions taken will be consistent with the College’s right as an employer, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and State and Federal law.