POLICY

Aurora University is committed to maintaining an educational and work environment that is free of discrimination. In keeping with this commitment, Aurora University will not tolerate harassment of its students or employees on Aurora University property by anyone, including any student, staff member, faculty member, co-worker, vendor or any third party.

Harassment consists of unwelcome conduct, whether verbal, physical, or visual, that is based upon a person's protected status, such as sex, color, race, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other protected group status.

Sexual harassment encompasses a wide range of unwanted, sexually directed behavior. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:

• submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's education or employment,
• submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for educational or employment decisions affecting such individual; or
• such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonable interference with an individual's educational or work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment.

This Anti-Harassment and Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy applies to the conduct of a supervisor toward a subordinate, an employee toward another employee, a non-employee toward an employee, or an employee toward an applicant for employment, university administrator toward a student, faculty member toward a student, staff member toward a student, a student toward another student or an employee to a non-employee.

In addition, consensual relationships among members of the university community in which one party exercises academic or administrative control over the other are deemed unwise and are strongly discouraged. If a charge of sexual harassment is lodged regarding a once-consenting relationship, the burden may be on the alleged offender to prove that this Anti-Harassment Anti-Sexual Harassment policy was not violated.

Any employee or student of the university who feels that he/she has experienced harassment should notify one or more of the following university officials: their supervisor, the Director of Human Resources, the Provost, the Faculty Ombudsperson and/or any appropriate official designated by the President.

Aurora University forbids retaliation against anyone for reporting harassment, assisting in making a harassment complaint, or cooperating in a harassment investigation.

Allegations of harassment and sexual harassment will be investigated promptly. To the fullest extent practicable, the university will keep the complaints and the terms of their resolution confidential.

Employees are required to attend on-line or in-class training when hired and annually, thereafter. On-line training is available throughout the year at http://www.aurora.edu/hr/training.htm.

Questions regarding this policy should be directed to Human Resources.

Aurora