Student Rights and Responsibilities: Sexual Harassment & Hostile Environment

Relevant Excerpt

Sexual Harassment is a form of discrimination and encompasses unwelcome verbal, physical, written, or online conduct of a sexual nature, including sexual assault.  Additionally, sexual harassment encompasses gender-based harassment which is harassment of a non-sexual nature that occurs because of an individual’s sex and/or gender.  Gender-based harassment includes harassment based on an individual’s non-conformity to sex and/or gender stereotypes. Sexual harassment, including sexual assault, can involve persons of the same or opposite sex.  Consistent with the law, this policy prohibits two types of sexual harassment:

Hostile Environment (Policies and Procedures Manual – Policy 3.110):

Sexual harassment creates a hostile environment when it is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive and has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with, denying, or limited employment opportunities or the ability to participate in or benefit from any College education, social, and/or residential program.