Definitions of Sexual Misconduct and Harassment

All members of the College community are encouraged to review the definitions outlined in the Sexual Misconduct Policy, Non-discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy, and Sexual Intimacies Policy. Any questions should be directed to the Title IX Coordinator on the appropriate campus. Select definitions are included below.

Dating Violence

Dating Violence means an act of violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the person who is subject to such behavior.

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence refers to felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse of the victim, by a person who shares a child with the victim, or by a person who is or formerly has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse.

Hostile Environment

A hostile environment is created when unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature (i) is so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from an education program  or creates an abusive educational environment , or (ii) explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment (including a student’s employment) unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance, or creates and abusive of offensive work environment.

Sexual Assault

is actual or attempted physical sexual contact with another person without that person’s consent (i.e., an action committed either by force, by intimidation, or by knowingly making use of the victims physical or mental helplessness). Effective consent is informed, freely and actively given speech or action that indicates a willingness to participate in mutually agreed upon sexual contact. Consent cannot be given by someone who is so incapacitated, by alcohol or other drugs or for some other reason, as not to be able to communicate unwillingness or to understand the nature of the conduct being engaged in. Silence and/or lack of resistance on the part of the complainant does not constitute consent.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal, nonverbal, graphic or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: (i) submission to or rejection of such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a condition of an individual’s employment or academic standing or is used as the basis for employment decisions or for academic evaluation, grades, or advancement (quid pro quo); or (ii) such conduct creates a hostile environment.

Sexual Misconduct

Sexual Misconduct includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual coercion, sexual exploitation and stalking.

Stalking

Stalking means engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress.