ISUPP 3100: Policy on Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Non-discrimination- Discriminatory Harassment

Relevant Excerpt

1. Discriminatory harassment constitutes a form of discrimination that is prohibited by ISU policy. Discriminatory harassment is defined as unwelcome conduct by any member or group of the community on the basis of actual or perceived membership in a class protected by policy or law.
2. ISU does not tolerate discriminatory harassment of any employee, student, visitor, or guest. ISU will act to remedy all forms of harassment when reported, whether or not the harassment rises to the level of creating a “hostile environment.”
3. A hostile environment is one that unreasonably interferes with, limits, or effectively denies an individual’s educational or employment access, benefits, or opportunities. This discriminatory effect results from harassing verbal, written, graphic, or physical conduct that is severe or pervasive and objectively offensive.
4. When discriminatory harassment rises to the level of creating a hostile environment, ISU also may impose sanctions on the Respondent through the application of the appropriate grievance process below.
5. ISU reserves the right to address offensive conduct and/or harassment that (1) does not rise to the level of creating a hostile environment, or that (2) is of a generic nature and not based on a protected status. Such conduct may be addressed through conversation, remedial actions, education, Alternative Resolution, and/or other informal resolution mechanisms.