03.004:  Harassment

SUPERCEDED on March 27, 2006

Current Version

Status:	Approved on October 28, 2002	Signatures and dates on archival copy
Effective:	September 1, 2002
Initiated by:	William Y. Smith Executive Assistant to the President for Institutional Equity
Reviewed by:	Nancy Prichard Crist, Chair Policy and Procedure Review Committee
Endorsed by:	Gary North Vice President for Administration
Approved by:	Stephen Kopp Provost

Purpose

To provide a uniform policy on harassment as a form of discrimination in all areas of employment and educational relationships at Ohio University.

Policy

Harassment of students, staff, or faculty is not acceptable behavior at Ohio University. No male or female member of the Ohio University community including faculty, contract staff, classified staff, and students may harass any other member of the community. Many forms of harassment are discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and thereby illegal under law as well as a violation of Ohio University Policy. Ohio University is committed to maintaining an environment in which every individual can work, study, and live without being harassed. Harassment may lead to sanctions up to an including termination of employment or student status.

Harassment is any conduct that has the intent or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's or group's educational, living, or work environment. Harassment includes conduct relating to race, color, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or veteran status.

In addition, sexual harassment includes unwanted advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

1. Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment or of a student's status in a course, program, or activity;

2. Submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for decisions affecting the individual; or

3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the individual's work, performance, or educational experience; or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for work or learning.

Nonsexual verbal or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility toward another because of the person's gender can be the basis for a hostile, offensive, or intimidating environment claim. Gender-based conduct can take the form of abusive written or graphic material; epithets; sexist slurs; negative stereotyping; jokes; or threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts.

Procedures

Any member of the Ohio University community who feels harassed is encouraged to seek assistance and resolution of the complaint. All persons with a complaint should contact the Office for Institutional Equity to obtain information on the procedure for handling such complaints. Ohio University provides a variety of avenues by which an individual who feels harassed may proceed so that each person follows the avenue appropriate to his or her particular situation.

Reviewers

Proposed revisions of this policy should be reviewed by:

1. Policy and Procedure Review Committee

2. Director of Legal Affairs

3. Assistant Vice President for Administration for Human Resources

4. Director of Judiciaries

5. University Ombuds

Forms

There are no forms that are specific to this policy.

Dick Piccard revised this file (http://www.ohiou.edu/policy/s03-004.html) on March 29, 2006.

Please E-mail any comments or suggestions to "policy@ohio.edu".