Board
Policies & Administrative Procedures
400 |
Student Body and Educational Programs |
434.0 |
Prohibition of Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and
Other Forms of Harassment |
| P. 434.0 |
All forms of discrimination and harassment
degrade the quality of work and diminish the academic mission
and will not be tolerated. Sexual harassment, because of its
nature, has received special attention within Title IX of the
Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act. Further, because of the unique relationship
between student and faculty member or supervisor and
subordinate, and the inequities in power, sexual harassment is
especially troublesome in the academic environment. Sexual
harassment not only violates the law and College policy, but
also can damage personal and professional relationships, cause
career or economic disadvantage, and expose the College to
legal liabilities and other financial consequences.
Sexual and other forms of harassment can be prevented
through instilling knowledge and awareness. This policy is
intended to increase awareness and provide practical
information regarding sexual harassment by making available
information, resources, and the availability of guidance on
the subject.
Even consensual sexual or romantic relationships may be
perceived as or become occasions of sexual harassment. For
more information, individuals should refer to Policy
434.1/534.1, Romantic
or Sexual Relationships.
|
| |
Definitions of Sexual
Harassment |
| D. 434.0.1 |
Sexual harassment includes any unwelcome sexual
advances, requests for sexual favors, or other unwelcome
written, verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:
- submission to such conduct is made, explicitly or
implicitly, a term or condition of an individual’s
education, employment, or participation in College
activity;
- submission to, or rejection of, such conduct by an
individual is used as the basis for decisions affecting that
individual’s academic standing, employment status or
participation in a College program or activity;
- such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably
interfering with an individual’s academic or work
performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or
offensive environment for that individual’s employment,
education, or participation in a College program or
activity. (This third situation is commonly known as hostile
environment sexual harassment.)
|
| D. 434.0.2 |
Sexual harassment may occur between members of
the same or opposite sex; sexual harassment may occur between
persons of the same or different College status (faculty,
staff, student, visitor, vendor, other). Groups may also be
found to engage in sexual harassment. |
| D. 434.0.3 |
Harassment based on a person’s sex is not
limited to instances involving sexual behavior. Behavior that
is based on sexual advances or overtones, as well as sex or
gender harassment because of a person’s sex (for example,
being denied equal treatment because a person is a female or
male, or being treated differently because of gender
stereotypes) may be considered sexual harassment. |
| D. 434.0.4 |
Sexual harassment may include unwelcome
sexually-oriented kidding or teasing, sexual innuendoes,
sexually-oriented jokes, jokes about gender-specific traits or
which are gender-based, or display of obscene material. |
| D. 434.0.5 |
Someone who is not the direct and immediate
target of sexual harassment may still be a victim of sexual
harassment. Harassing behavior toward others may be so
offensive, demeaning or disruptive as to constitute a hostile
work or academic environment, though not specifically directed
at the observer or individual lodging a complaint. |
| |
Reporting Discrimination and Harassment
|
| Pr. 434.0.1.1 |
Any student who believes that he or she has
been the subject of sexual or other harassment should
report the alleged act immediately to the Vice President
for Academic and Student Affairs, 636-922-8356, Room
SSB 2110 or as an alternative, the Director of Student
Development, 636-922-8238, Room ADM 1204. The College
will respond in a prompt and equitable manner to allegations
of harassment and will respond appropriately to those
who violate this policy, up to and including termination
of employment or dismissal from the College, as applicable. |
| Pr. 434.0.1.2 |
Any employee who believes that he or she
has been the subject of sexual or other harassment or
who has witnessed discrimination or harassment, on any
basis, should report the alleged act immediately to the
Vice President for Human Resources, 636-922-8300, Room
ADM 1123. Reports may also be made to any Administrative
Officer of the College. A person does not have to be the
direct target of the discrimination or harassment to report
it. The College will respond in a prompt and equitable
manner to allegations of harassment and will respond appropriately
to those who violate this policy, up to and including
termination of employment. |
| Pr. 434.0.1.3 |
While the Vice President for Academic and
Student Affairs and the Vice President for Human Resources
are formally responsible for enforcing compliance with
discrimination and harassment policies, ensuring that
the campus is free of discrimination and harassment is
a shared responsibility of all employees of the College
community. If discrimination, harassment, or retaliation
is observed by, or reported to a College official (administrators,
managers, and supervisors), then that official has the
duty to immediately report the matter to the responsible
parties listed above. The fact that the alleged victim
does not wish to file a complaint does not relieve the
official of this responsibility. |
| Pr. 434.0.1.4 |
The method for reporting harassment is also
outlined in the St. Charles Community College Reporting
Discrimination and Harassment (Complaint Procedure). A
copy of that document may be obtained from the following
locations:
Information Desk, Administration Building
Office of Human Resources
Office of Academic and Student Affairs
Office of Administrative Services
Department of Marketing and Communications
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| |
Discrimination and Harassment
Investigations and Appeals Process |
| Pr. 434.0.2.1 |
Conduct alleged to constitute sexual or other
forms of harassment will be evaluated according to the
objective standard of a reasonable person. |
| Pr. 434.0.2.2 |
Involved parties will be informed, to the
extent possible, as to the outcome of any investigation
arising out of this policy. In the event that an individual
disagrees with the outcome of an investigation, the decision
may be appealed to the President of the College, 636-922-8383. |
Color
Key |
P =
Policy
Pr = Procedure
|
D = Definition
S = Supplement |
Back
to Policy Home Page
|
Content Owner: Donna Davis —
ddavis@stchas.edu
Page Created by: Chris Scherer
Page Updated by:
Jessica James
Date Issued:
Date Revised: 05/8/08
|
