Anti-Harassment Policy

Carthage College seeks to provide an environment in which students, faculty, staff, guests, and visitors can study, work, and experience the College community without harassment or discrimination. It is the policy of Carthage College to prohibit any acts of harassment or discrimination toward employees, students, or guests of the college community. In addition to being contrary to the College’s Mission and Principles, harassment and discrimination are prohibited by this policy, the College’s Sexual Misconduct Policy, and state and federal laws. Carthage College prohibits harassment and discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, disability, veteran’s status, or national origin, or any other characteristics protected by law, in its programs and activities. The College is dedicated to providing a prompt and thorough response to conduct that adversely impacts, or has the potential to adversely impact, the educational or work environment of Carthage College faculty, students, staff, guests, and visitors.

This Anti-Harassment Policy (“Policy”) has been developed to provide recourse for individuals who believe their rights as protected by this Policy have been violated and serves as a means to determine, after the fact, if specific behaviors constitute violations of this Policy. Failure to comply with this Policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

Prohibited Conduct under this Policy

Harassment, as defined by this Policy, includes any action, language, or visual representation, based on any characteristic protected by law including race, color, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, disability, veteran’s status, or national origin, that is sufficiently severe, pervasive, persistent or patently offensive that it has the effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance, or that creates a hostile working, educational or living environment. Sexual harassment and harassment based on gender are prohibited at the College and are covered under the Carthage College Sexual Misconduct Policy, as are other forms of sexual misconduct defined therein including sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, or stalking.

Non-discriminatory harassment as defined by this Policy includes any action, language, or visual representation, that is sufficiently severe, pervasive, persistent, or patently offensive that it has the effect of unreasonably interfering with that person’s work or academic performance, or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working, educational, or living environment. It is a violation of this Policy for a member of the Carthage community (faculty, staff, student, guest or visitor, or anyone else acting at the instigation of a Carthage College community member) to:

• Engage in any form of harassment whether intentional or unintentional on the campus or in the off-campus area.
• Retaliate against a person who has initiated an inquiry or complaint having to do with harassment.

Procedures

Information for students about harassment is available from the Office of Student Life. The Office of Human Resources may be contacted for counseling and assistance relating to harassment or discrimination involving employees of the college. Anyone with a question or concern about harassment is encouraged to contact one of the above offices for counsel and assistance.

Harassment complaints about a student should be filed with the Office of Student Life. Harassment complaints about a staff or faculty employee (including a student employee) should be filed with the employee’s immediate supervisor or a representative of the Human Resources Department. If the complaint is with the immediate supervisor, the employee should contact the supervisor’s immediate superior or a representative of the Human Resources Department. A complaint about a guest or visitor should be called to the attention of the host or the supervisor of the area or event where the concern has arisen.

The right of confidentiality for any party involved in a harassment incident, including the complainant and the charged, will be respected insofar as it does not interfere with the college’s obligation to investigate allegations of misconduct and to take corrective action where appropriate.

Published date: Sept. 1, 2016