Section 300: Campus Policy
1001.2 Sexual Harassment
Effective: November 30, 1988
Revised: December 1999, February 2007
Review Date: March 2009
Responsible Party: Chancellor

Definitions

Sexual Harassment refers to any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that: 1) involves a stated or implicit threat or promise to the victim's academic or employment status; 2) has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual's academic or work performance; or (3) creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.

Sexual intimidation includes any unreasonable behavior, verbal or nonverbal, which has the effect of subjecting members of either sex to humiliation, embarrassment, or discomfort because of their gender.

Faculty, for the purpose of this policy only, means any individual who teaches at the University, including anyone employed as a graduate teaching assistant.

Staff means any individual who is employed by Montana State University-Northern, including graduate assistants but excluding student labor.

Student, (for the purpose of this policy only) means any individual enrolled in a course or program of study at MSU-Northern, including student labor.

Policy

Sexual harassment in any context is reprehensible and is a matter of particular concern to an academic community in which students, faculty and staff are related by strong bonds of intellectual dependence and trust. Sexual harassment most frequently occurs when one person has some power or authority over another. For purposes of university policy, the term "sexual harassment" refers to any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that:

1. involves a stated or implicit threat or promise to the victim's academic or employment status;
2. has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual's academic or work performance; or
3. creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.

Sexual intimidation includes any unreasonable behavior, verbal or nonverbal, which has the effect of subjecting members of either sex to humiliation, embarrassment, or discomfort because of their gender.

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination and is prohibited by state and federal non discrimination laws. Sexual intimidation in education is prohibited by state rules.

Such behavior violates the standards of conduct required of all persons associated with the institution. Violators are subject to the full range of internal institutional disciplinary action, including separation from the institution. Any student, faculty member, or other employee who believes he or she is a victim of sexual harassment may report the complaint according to the Montana State University-Northern Discrimination Grievance Procedure 1001.7.

References:

1001 General Campus Conduct
1001.7 Discrimination Grievance Procedure

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