Sexual Harassment and Discrimination

[Excerpts from policy approved May 1999]

Every University staff member, faculty member, and student has the right to work and study in an environment free from discrimination and harassment and should be treated with dignity and respect.  The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, status as a veteran or any classification protected by local, state, or federal law. 

Harassment is the creation of a hostile or intimidating environment, in which verbal or physical conduct, because of its severity and/or persistence, is likely to interfere significantly with an individual’s work or education, or affect adversely an individual’s living conditions on campus.  Illegal and improper harassment may include, for example:

• Making unwelcome comments about a person’s clothing, body, or personal life;

• Use of offensive nicknames or terms of endearment;

• Offensive jokes or unwelcome innuendoes;

• Any suggestion that sexual favors, race, gender, religion, national origin, age disability or any other protected classification would affect one’s job, promotion, performance evaluations, grades, or working or educational conditions; or

• Other conduct that, even if not objectionable to some individuals, creates a working environment that may be considered by others to be offensive or hostile.

Sexual Harassment, in particular, may consist of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when one or more of the following occur:

• Submission to or rejection of such conduct is made a term or condition of an individual’s employment or academic success;

• Submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for employment or academic conditions; or

• Such conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or creates a hostile, intimidating or offensive work or educational environment.

The University’s policy against discrimination and harassment incorporates protections afforded by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, which prohibits the discrimination in educational programs and activities based on gender.  The policy also incorporates other local, state, and federal laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Any individual whose conduct violates the policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination for faculty and staff and expulsion for students.

Copies of the complete “Harassment and Discrimination Policy (including Sexual Harassment)” are included in the Student Handbooks, Faculty Handbook, and in the Guidelines for University of Richmond Support Staff.  Copies are also available at the Dean’s Office of each College and School and the Department of Human Resource Services.  For further information, or informal resolution:

• Students should contact the dean of their school or residential college;

• Staff should contact the Director of Human Resource Services; and

• Faculty should contact the dean of their school.

For formal resolution, complaints should be directed to the Director of Human Resource Services.