Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors, and other unwelcome, verbal, written, electronic or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

1. Submission to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of an individual’s education;
2. Submission to, or rejection of, such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for education decisions affecting such individual; or,
3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.

Examples of Sexually Harassing Conduct or Behavior: Sexually harassing conduct or behavior (regardless of the gender of the persons involved) includes:

1. Physical touching;
2. Sexual comments of a provocative or suggestive nature;
3. Suggestive looks or gestures;
4. Jokes, printed material or innuendoes intended for and directed to another person;
5. Making acceptance of unwelcome sexual conduct, advances, or requests for sexual favors of any nature a condition for education, education decisions, or continued enrollment (pressure for sexual favors).

This is a representative list of harassing conduct of behavior and is not intended to be exhaustive.

In the instructor-student context, the fundamental element of sexual harassment is the inappropriate personal attention, including romantic and sexual relationships with a student by an instructor or staff member who is in a position to determine a student’s grade or otherwise affect the student’s academic advancement. Since the instructor‐student relationship is one of professional and client, the above inappropriate behavior is unacceptable in a college because it is in a form of unprofessional behavior which seriously undermines the atmosphere of trust essential to the academic setting.

The instructor‐student relationship should at all times be professional and any conduct by an instructor or staff member which creates a sexually intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment is inappropriate and unacceptable.

The staff-student relationship should at all times be respectful of the right of the other, and any conduct by staff which creates a sexually intimidating, hostile or offensive environment violates the College’s sexual harassment rule.

The student-student relationship, the student-instructor relationship, and the student-staff relationship should at all times be respectful of the rights of the other, and any conduct by a student which creates a sexually intimidating, hostile or offensive environment violates the College’s sexual harassment rule. For this purpose, staff not only includes college staff, but also all employees of clinics and agencies affiliated with a college clinical program or course.

Should you be confronted with sexual harassment, promptly notify Shannon Patterson at (706) 771-4013.