Sexual Harassment 

Sexual harassment is defined as any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors or other verbal or physical conduct or communication of a sexual nature WHEN:

        • submission to such conduct is an explicit or implicit condition of employment or academic success; or

        • submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for an employment or academic decision;
           or

Such conduct has the purpose or effect of:

        • interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance; or

        • creating an intimidating or hostile working or academic environment.

The college will not tolerate any type of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is contrary to college policy and contrary to the values of the Dickinson community. It is prohibited by federal and state law. According to Pennsylvania law, harassment may include:

        •Verbal harassment: sexual innuendo and other suggestive comments, humor and jokes about sex or
          gender specific traits, offensive notes, sexual propositions, insults and threats that an individual
          communicates are unwanted and unwelcome.

        • Nonverbal harassment: unwanted and unwelcome physical contact or suggestive body language.

Sexual harassment of a student by another student is a violation of the Community’s Standards and consists of unwanted sexual attention, unwelcome sexual advances or intimidating, unwanted or unwelcome verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature. In particular, sexual harassmenit includes conduct that has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating or hostile environment.

**Complete sexual harassment and other harassment policies are available online in the Student Handbook and through HR Services.  

Other Forms of Discriminatory Harassment. 

Harassment based upon sexual orientation or legally protected characteristics such as race, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, or military status is strictly prohibited. The college prohibits all forms of harassing conduct based upon these protected characteristics. No student or employee should be subjected to harassment or discriminated against because he or she is a member of a certain group. Certain conduct that may constitute discriminatory harassment, includes, but is not limited to: preferential or derogatory treatment based upon protected characteristics; using insulting or degrading language that would reasonably offend members of a given race, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected group;distributing or displaying any written or graphic materials that would be offensive to members of any protected group; and using racial, religious, or ethnic epithets.

The college is committed to eliminating all forms of discriminatory harassment from the workplace. While some discriminatory stereotypes and prejudices fortunately still exist in our society, no supervisor, manager or employee may express or act upon such unacceptable feelings and beliefs in the workplace or while conducting busines. Any employee, supervisor or manager who commits or condones discriminatory harassment will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.