Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment Policy

Relevant Excerpt

Discriminatory Harassment: Discriminatory Harassment means verbal comments, graphic or written statements, or physical conduct by a student, faculty, staff, or other PSU community member based on Protected Class(es) that is so severe, persistent or pervasive that it interferes with or limits a student, employee, volunteer or PSU community member’s ability to participate in or benefit from the university’s educational and/or employment opportunities, programs or activities. Discriminatory Harassment includes Sexual Harassment.

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Sexual Harassment: Sexual Harassment refers to unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment includes sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal comments, non-verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature, where such conduct is sufficiently severe or pervasive that it has the effect, intended or unintended, of:

• unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or  
• it creating an intimidating, hostile environment

Examples of inappropriate behavior include: sexual or derogatory comments; grabbing or touching parts of the body; and sending letters, notes, cartoons, emails, text or audio messages of a sexually suggestive nature.