Policy On Harassment and Discrimination
Harassment or discrimination by anyone, whether in the classroom, the office, at a University
sponsored function, or within any university environment, will not be tolerated. Individuals found to
participate in harassment or discrimination will be subject to disciplinary procedures up to and including
termination.
Individuals Covered Under the Policy
Troy University’s comprehensive harassment and discrimination policy covers all employees, students,
applicants, vendors/contractors, visitors, and all others conducting official business with the
University.
I. Definition of Harassment
For purposes of Troy University’s policy, harassment is any comments or conduct consisting of
words or actions that are unwelcome or offensive to a person in relation to sex, race, age, religion,
national origin, color, marital status, pregnancy, disability or veteran’s status. This is inclusive
of comments or conduct by a person in a position of authority that is intimidating, threatening
or abusive. Harassment can also occur between people of similar authority. Harassment occurs
when it is known or ought reasonably to be known that such comments or conduct would be
unwelcome.
Examples of harassment include gestures, remarks, jokes, taunting, innuendo, display of offensive
materials, threats, imposition of academic penalties, hazing, stalking, shunning or exclusion
related to the discriminatory or harassing grounds. The victim should directly inform the
harasser that the conduct is unwelcome and must stop. The victim should report any complaint
as dictated by policy.NOTE: In any case of harassment, the harasser can be the victim’s supervisor, an agent of the
employer, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or a non-employee to include students.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment as defined by this policy includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for
sexual favors, and any other verbal, graphic, or physical conduct. If these events are of sexual
nature it constitutes sexual harassment when submission to, or rejection of this conduct explicitly
or implicitly, affects an individual’s employment or educational experience, unreasonably
interferes with an individual’s work performance or academic performance, or creates an intimidating,
hostile, or offensive work or educational environment.
Sexual harassment can occur in a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to the following:
1. Demanding sexual favors in exchange for favorable evaluations, assignments, promotions,
continued employment, grades, letters of recommendation, or similar promises.
2. Subtle pressure for sexual activity.
3. Continued or repeated sexual jokes, kidding, teasing, epithets, flirtation, advances, or propositions.
4. Derogatory or demeaning comments about gender, whether sexual or not.
5. Harassment consistently targeted at only one sex, even if the content of the verbal abuse is
not sexual.
6. Verbal abuse of a sexual nature.
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7. Graphic verbal commentary about an individual’s body, clothing, sexual process, or sexual
deficiencies.
8. Sexually degrading or vulgar words to describe an individual.
9. Leering, whistling, touching, pinching, brushing the body, assault, coerced sexual acts, or
suggestive, insulting, or obscene comments or gestures.
10. The display in the workplace or an academic environment of sexually suggestive objects,
pictures, posters or cartoons.
11. Introduction or utilization of inappropriate sexual material in an academic setting.
12. Name calling, relating stories, gossip, comments, or jokes that may be derogatory toward a
particular sex.
13. The display of sexually suggestive graffiti.
14. Asking questions about sexual conduct or sexual orientation or performances.
15. Offensive, repeated requests for dates, even if made after work.
16. Continued advances of a sexual nature which are rejected, even after the parties break off
a consensual relationship.
II. Definition of Discrimination
For the purposes of Troy University’s policy, discrimination is defined as any action resulting in
illegal differentiation or adverse treatment of an individual
http://trojan.troy.edu/catalogs/1314undergraduate/pdf/documents/19U-APPENDICES.pdf
