Student Rights and Responsibilities

Harassment Policy

This University is committed to maintaining a standard of conduct among its students and employees that treats individuals with dignity and respect.  Harassment violates this standard and shall not be tolerated.  If a student is subject to harassment or a hate crime because of membership in a particular social, religious, gender, ethnic, cultural, or sexual orientation group, the Office of Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Outreach (Foster Administration Bldg., Room 323) should be contacted first.  Complaint procedures are available to resolve the issues and will be fully explained by the Office staff.

Sexual harassment is defined as follows: unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when the conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive to limit a students’ ability to participate in or benefit from the education program, or to create a hostile or abusive educational environment.  It should be clearly understood that “academic freedom” may not be used to shelter or excuse instances of sexual harassment.  University students and staff have the right to work and study without being subjected to sexual harassment.  University students and staff have the right to expect the university administration to work actively to keep this academic community free from sexual harassment and to take prompt action to correct abuses.  University students and staff have no right to sexually harass other members of this academic community.

Sexual harassment is illegal.  Persons at UMass Dartmouth who knowingly and persistently violate this policy shall be officially reprimanded, censured, or punished more severely as warranted by the circumstances consistant with the Universities anti-harrasment complaint procedure.  Moreover, the university will not tolerate retaliation against victims of sexual harassment.  Any retaliation by the accused and/or others shall result in disciplinary action.

 Last Updated On: 10/13/05