Washtenaw Community College seeks to provide a caring, accessible, teaching, working, research and learning environment. The College is committed to providing an environment that supports individual and collective effort, that values diversity of background, opinion, and viewpoint, and that treats each individual with dignity and respect. One of the basic values of the institution is respect for differences in people and in ideas. We plan and work together with respect, trust, and honesty within the College and the communities we serve.
Discrimination against individuals on the basis of any protected status is antithetical to the values of the College and is prohibited by law. Harassment of individuals because of any of these innate characteristics will not be tolerated at Washtenaw Community College. Violation of this policy may result in discipline ranging from counseling up to and including dismissal.
DEFINITION
Discriminatory harassment is defined as verbal or physical conduct based upon religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, marital status, disability, veteran status or any other protected status as provided for and to the extent required by state and federal statutes. The College also prohibits discriminatory harassment based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Any verbal or physical conduct is prohibited if it is based on any of these protected statuses and it:
- adversely affects a term or condition of an individual's education, employment, or participation in a College activity;
- is used as a basis for or a factor in any decision affecting the individual's employment, education, or participation in a College activity;
- has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's employment or educational performance; or
- has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, offensive or abusive environment for that individual's employment, education, or participation in a College activity.
The Office of Human Resource Management is responsible for ensuring that a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation is made of every complaint of harassment which involves faculty and staff. Students are encouraged to use the reporting procedures outlined in the Student Handbook.
Any person who feels that s/he has been subjected to harassment, who is aware of conduct prohibited under this policy, or who feels that s/he has been retaliated against for having brought a complaint, opposed harassment or having participated in the complaint or investigation process should immediately report the matter to his or her supervisor, to any Dean or Executive Officer, or to any person in the Office of Human Resource Management. Any person receiving such a report should contact the Director of Employee and Labor Relations who shall be responsible for coordinating the investigation and resolution of the complaint. Investigations shall be handled under the procedures for sexual harassment investigations.
Adopted: September 28, 1999
Administrative Review: May 2002
Revised: November 18, 2014
(5081)