Policy GEN-PO-1002: Discrimination and Harassment Policy

Relevant Excerpt

Harassment is a form of discrimination in which unwelcome verbal, written, or physical conduct is directed toward an individual on the basis of their protected characteristics or statuses. Harassment does not have to include intent to harm, be directed at a specific target, or involve repeated incidents. Harassment violates this Policy when it creates a hostile environment, as defined below.

Hostile Environment may be created by oral, written, graphic or physical conduct that is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive, and objectively offensive that it interferes with, limits, or denies the ability of an individual to participate in or benefit from Radford University’s education programs, services, opportunities, or activities, or the individual's employment access, benefits, or opportunities. Mere subjective offensiveness is not enough to create a hostile environment. In determining whether conduct is severe, persistent, or pervasive, and thus creates a hostile environment, the following factors will be considered: (a) the degree to which the conduct affected one or more individual’s education or employment; (b) the nature, scope, frequency, duration, and location of the incident(s); (c) the identity, number, and relationships of persons involved; (d) the perspective of a “reasonable person” in the same situation as the person subjected to the conduct, and (e) the nature of higher education.

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Sexual Harassment means conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following: ... Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to Radford University’s education program or activity; ...