CCDC Upholds Safe, Respectful Campus with Anti-Harassment & Safe Spaces Policies

Ensuring a learning and working environment free from harassment, discrimination and bullying is a key priority for higher education institutions today. At Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC), a private higher-education institution in La Trinidad, Benguet, the institution has explicitly adopted policies and mechanisms to guarantee a safe space for all students, faculty and staff.

Policy Framework – What CCDC Has Put in Place

Handbook for Students (2021 edition)
CCDC’s “Handbook for Students 2021 – Article 8, Sections 2-5” includes explicit sections dealing with harassment, discrimination, non-discrimination for women and LGBTQ persons, and safe-space protocols.

Under Section 3. Safe Spaces Policy, the handbook states:

“…CCDC recognizes that both men and women must have equality, security, and safety … in educational … institutions. … CCDC is committed to creating and sustaining a safe space environment for its students, employees and all its stakeholders, free from all forms of discrimination and harassment. It is also committed to truth and will ensure prompt investigation of all allegations of harassment…”

Under Section 4. Non-Discrimination Against Women and Section 5. Non-Discrimination for LGBTQ, the handbook sets out the institution’s commitment to equal opportunity, protection from unequal treatment, and facilities support (e.g., nursing rooms) for women.

The handbook further states that policies covering gender-    mainstreaming, child protection, bullying and harassment are          embedded in governance, curriculum, student services and campus life.

Student Help Lines & Reporting Mechanism
CCDC publishes on its “Student Help Lines – Campus Safety and Conduct” page a reporting channel specifically for bullying, harassment or inappropriate conduct:

“If you are a witness to or a victim of bullying, harassment, or inappropriate conduct… please report it immediately. Your safety is our primary concern, and all reports are handled with confidentiality.”
The page lists contact offices (Office of Student Services, Security Guard/Marshal) and phone numbers and email contact for reporting.

Training and Awareness Activities

CCDC held a seminar for pre-service teachers (College of Teacher Education) on the themes of child protection policy, anti-bullying and the Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313) on November 20, 2023.

The institution also embeds gender-equity, sensitivity and human rights training: e.g., an article notes that 140 students from the College of Criminal Justice Education attended a human rights session February 18, 2023, and orientation on the Safe Spaces Act was held before each semester.

Public Commitment and Institutional Messaging
In its SDG-tracking section (linking to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals), CCDC publicly declares:

“CCDC implements Anti-Harassment Policy to uphold school integrity and safety.”
The article summarises the policy’s components, such as forbidding unauthorised social media posts that misrepresent or defame the institution or its community members.

 

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