Policy Prohibiting Unlawful Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation
Statement Policy
The University is committed to providing an environment that is free of unlawful harassment, discrimination and retaliation as defined by federal, state and local law, as well as under this policy. The University recognized the important contribution a diverse community of students, faculty and staff makes towards the advancement of its goals and ideals. To this end, the University strictly prohibits all forms of unlawful harassment (including sexual harassment), unlawful discrimination and/or retaliation in any form. Any violations of this policy will be treated as serious misconduct and result in appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination or dismissal from the University.
This policy applies to all students, faculty, and staff including, but not limited to applicants, interns, volunteers, non-supervisory staff, supervisors, managers, directors and leadership. It is also the policy of the University to protect its students, faculty and staff from unlawful harassment by vendors, guests and other visitors to the University. It is the responsibility of every student, faculty and staff member to follow this policy conscientiously.
Nothing in this policy should be construed to infringe on the academic freedom of members of the University community and their right to use the academic forum provided by the University either to discuss controversial subjects or to express ideas with which some or most members of the University community strongly disagree.
Federal law and state law, and this University Policy, prohibit unlawful harassment and discrimination against students, applicants, interns, employees and/or any person providing services to the University, on the basis of protected characteristics, including but not limited to: race, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), color, national origin (including possession of a driver's license granted under Section 12801.9 of the CA Vehicle Code; and including language and language use restrictions), citizenship status, ancestry, marital status, registered domestic partner status, genetic information, sex, (including pregnancy, childbirth, and/or related medical conditions and/or breastfeeding), sexual orientation or preference, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender (including whether or not the individual has transitioned or is transitioning), genetic information, age 40 or over, military or veteran status, mental disability, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), legally protected medical conditions (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), denial of protected leave under federal or state law, certain medical conditions (including, but not limited to cancer and genetic characteristics), military and/or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other bases protected by federal, state law, or local law, ordinance or regulation.
Unlawful harassment and discrimination are also prohibited based on the perception that a student, applicants, intern, employee, and/or any person providing services to the University, has any of the above-mentioned protected characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.
The University strictly prohibits all forms of unlawful harassment, discrimination and/or retaliation in any form. Conduct in violation of this Unlawful Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation Policy is prohibited in all places and all times, including, but not limited to, during any school program(s) and/or activit(ies) and in classrooms, school facilities, dorms and/or off-campus locations.
Anyone who violates this Policy Prohibiting Unlawful Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation is subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including immediate termination or dismissal.
The University will respond to sexual harassment, including off campus incidents if there is any reason to believe the incident could contribute to a hostile educational environment or otherwise interfere with a student's access to education. The University will respond to incidents, or that reasonably should be, known to the University.