What is Harassment?
Discriminatory harassment means verbal or physical conduct that is directed at an individual because of his or her protected class; that is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent, and has the purpose or effect of creating a hostile work or educational environment.
Protected Class includes: race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. In addition, familial status and membership or activity in a local human rights commission are protected classes in employment.
Harassment may occur in a variety of relationships, including faculty and student, supervisor and employee, student and student, staff and student, employee and employee, and other relationships with persons having business at, or visiting the educational or working environment.
Nondiscriminatory Harassment means verbal or physical conduct that is directed at an individual for reasons other than his or her protected class, that is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent, and has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual’s work or educational environment.