Title IX is now part of the Office of Equal Opportunity, which oversees the university’s civil rights compliance responsibilities under federal and local laws. For more information, visit the OEO website.
Defining Sexual Harassment
Sexual Harassment is an umbrella term that refers to a broad range of unwelcome conduct on the basis of sex.
Sexual Harassment is conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following:
- A university employee conditions the provision of aid, benefit, or service on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct
- Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the university’s Programs or Activities
- Sexual Assault
- Dating Violence
- Domestic Violence
- Stalking
There are two main types of Sexual Harassment
Quid Pro Quo
Latin for: “this for that." Some examples may include:
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Offering a reward such as a promotion or a different work assignment in exchange for sexual favors or submission to sexual conduct
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Offering a reward such as a better grade, letter of recommendation, or admission to a program in exchange for sexual favors or submission to sexual contact
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Threatening or taking a negative action such as termination, demotion, change in working conditions, denial of an employee benefit, giving an unfair grade, withholding a letter of recommendation, or intentionally making the individual's job or academic work more difficult because submission to conduct of a sexual nature is rejected
Hostile Environment
Some examples may include:
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Repeated propositions or requests for a sexual relationship to an individual who has indicated this behavior is not wanted
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Unwelcome physical contact of a sexual nature
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Sexual gestures, noises, remarks, jokes. questions, or comments about a person's sexuality that are so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive that they effectively deny a person equal access to the university's programs or activities.
It is important to note that Sexual Harassment:
- May be committed by anyone, regardless of sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, position, or authority.
- May occur in any context or setting and/or in the presence of others or when the parties are alone.
- May be committed by a stranger, an acquaintance, or someone with who the person has an intimate or sexual relationship.
- May be committed by or against an individual or may be a result of the actions of an organization or group.
- Does not have to include an intent to harm, be directed at a specific target, or involve repeated incidents.
- May be blatant and intentional or may be subtle and indirect.
- May be a one-time event or may be part of a pattern of behavior.
- May affect the target of the harassment and/or third parties who witness or observe the harassment.