Sexual Harassment

The College believes that all of its students should be treated with respect and should be able to pursue their education in an environment free of unwelcome sexual conduct.

Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. The following examples are considered acts of sexual harassment:

• Submission to or rejection of such conduct is either explicitly or implicitly a condition of getting a good grade, a good reference or any other benefit, or avoiding an unfavorable consequence; or
• A student's willingness or unwillingness to submit to such conduct is used as the basis for an academic-related decision affecting the student; or
• Such conduct creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment or substantially interferes with the student's academic performance.

This policy applies to conduct of a faculty member, administrator, or other employee toward a student as well as to conduct between students and acts of third parties, such as visitors, contractors, or similar affiliates.

Prohibited Behavior

• Making unwelcome comments of a sexual nature about a person's clothing, body, or person.
• Using obscene or sexually explicit language.
• Using a term of endearment or nickname for another that has a sexual meaning or sexual overtones.
• Telling sexual jokes or making sexual innuendoes.
• Touching, hugging, rubbing, patting, pinching, or kissing another person in an overly familiar manner.
• Leering at a person's body.
• Displaying sexually explicit pictures or materials.
• Pressuring a student for a date or sexual contact.
• Making unwelcome sexual advances or propositions.

Do not assume that behavior of the kind listed above will be acceptable to another person. Be aware of how people respond to what you do and say. If an individual objects to your behavior toward him or her, listen and heed the objections.

Reporting Sexual Harassment or Other Kinds of Discrimination

It is important that you report sexual harassment and other kinds of discrimination to the College. We cannot do anything to remedy the situation if we do not know it exists. Any student who believes that she has been sexually harassed or subjected to other discrimination should take the following actions:

• Tell the offender firmly that you do not like his/her behavior.
• Report the incident immediately to the Associate Dean of Students and/or any College official.
• If you are harassed by a third party who is neither a student nor an employee of the College, notify the Associate Dean of Students and/or any College official immediately. The College cannot control the offensive behavior of all third parties, but every effort will be made to remedy the situation.

No student will be subjected to retaliation for complaining about sexual harassment or other discrimination. The College will investigate all reports of sexual harassment or other discrimination. Confidentiality will be maintained during the investigation to the extent possible without jeopardizing the thoroughness of the investigation.

If it is determined that sexual harassment or other discrimination has occurred, the College will take immediate and appropriate corrective action to resolve the problem and prevent its recurrence. The student making the complaint will be advised of the results of the investigation.

Right to File Complaint with Federal Agency

In addition to reporting sexual harassment or other discrimination, students also have the right to file a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) if the conduct is related to employment, or to the Office for Civil Rights ( OCR ) of the U.S. Department of Education if the conduct is related to education.

Both agencies have offices in Atlanta and may be contacted by phone or mail. They will investigate the complaint without charge to you. Retaliation against students for opposing sexual harassment or other discrimination or for filing a complaint with the EEOC or OCR is unlawful and contrary to College policy.

Clery Crime Log