Non-Discrimination & Anti-Harassment Policy & Procedures

Relevant Excerpt

Examples of conduct that may violate this Policy include the use of epithets, slurs, jokes, stereotyping, or intimidating or hostile acts directed at any individual because of his/her protected class status, as well as the failure to provide equal consideration, acknowledgment or access to educational opportunities to equally qualified individuals. Harassment does not have to include intent to harm or be directed at a specific target. Prohibited harassment may involve a single episode or ongoing behavior depending on the severity of the issue. Further, this Policy forbids not only verbal harassment but also harassment in any medium, including email and electronic social media.

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In addition to Title IX Sexual Harassment, the University prohibits a broader range of misconduct under its prohibition against Other Sexual Misconduct. This captures any unwelcome or unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal, physical, demonstrative, or electronic conduct or communication of a sexual nature, or which is directed at an individual because of that individual’s sex, when: ... The conduct does not meet the definition of Title IX hostile environment harassment or quid pro quo harassment, but unwelcome sexual conduct is occurring; and ... Such conduct has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working, learning, studying, or school environment (even if, in the case of a University employee or non-employee working at the University, the complaining individual is not the intended target of the sexual harassment). A sexually harassing hostile work environment consists of words, signs, jokes, pranks, intimidation or physical violence which are of a sexual nature, or which are directed at an individual because of that individual’s sex.

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Examples of conduct which may constitute sexual harassment include, but are not limited to: verbal comments of an overtly sexual nature, whether in the form of jokes, innuendoes, slurs, or other statements; the use of sexual teaching materials or comments of a sexual nature not relevant to the material being taught or any other academic purpose; remarks of a sexual nature about an individual’s clothing or body; remarks speculating about an individual’s sexual orientation, activity or previous sexual experiences; verbal harassment or abuse of a sexual nature; making offensive gender-based remarks; the display or transmission of sexually offensive objects, photographs, drawings, graffiti, email, electronic social media communications, computer graphics or programs when sexual content is not relevant to any academic purpose; non-verbal behaviors of a sexually degrading or offensive nature, such as gesturing, or leering; unwanted touching, hugging, or brushing against an individual’s body; requests, demands or persistent pressure for sexual favors, particularly when accompanied by an offer of rewards or threats of retaliation concerning work, grades, promotions, tenure or any other academic or University-related decision; and sexual abuse/assault (“sexual violence”).