Discrimination Policy

Student Life and Services > Discrimination Policy

STATEMENT OF POLICY

Walsh University does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, color, disability, national or ethnic origin, or status as veteran, in policies and programs such as those specified below. This statement applies to all academic programs, all athletic programs, and to all policies and procedures concerning students and student activities. The statement applies to all personnel and administrative policies. In order to maintain its Catholic identity, Walsh University may prefer to hire individuals who are Catholic or who demonstrate adherence to the ideas expressed in the University Mission Statement. Finally, it is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of sexual harassment and intimidation.

It is the stated policy of the Walsh University to promote and maintain a campus environment free from all forms of discrimination, intimidation, and exploitation, including sexual harassment. The use of one's institutional position or authority to promote discrimination against any individual or group or to solicit unwelcome sexual relations with a member of the Walsh University community is incompatible with the mutual trust and respect among the University community fundamental to the mission of the University. Discrimination and sexual harassment are considered unethical and unprofessional activities, especially when they involve persons of unequal power, authority, or influence. Furthermore, discrimination and sexual harassment are illegal under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

In accordance with the mission statement and compliance with nondiscrimination laws, Walsh University regards freedom from discrimination and sexual harassment and individual employee and student right protected by policy. Members of the Walsh community must stand against assaults upon the dignity and value of the individual. Walsh University is committed to freedom of expression; however, the value of free expression is undermined by acts of discriminatory harassment that harass, intimidate, or humiliate members of the community or create a hostile or offensive campus environment. Protected free expression ends when prohibited discriminatory harassment begins.

It is imperative that members of the Walsh community know that discriminatory harassment will not be tolerated.

DEFINITIONS

Discriminatory behavior involves the singling out, excluding, or demeaning an the basis of age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity or national origin, disability or veteran status.

Discriminatory harassment generally includes conduct (oral, written, graphic or physical) directed against any person or groups of persons because of age, gender, race, ethnicity or national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or religious preference, and that has the purpose or reasonably foreseeable effect of creating an offensive, demeaning, intimidating or hostile environment for that person or group of persons. Such conduct includes, but is not limited to, objectionable epithets, demeaning depiction or treatment, and threatened or actual abuse or harm.

Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests, for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical contact of a sexual nature when:

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

Sexual harassment includes the following examples:

Demeaning verbal remarks that are lewd, obscene, or sexually suggestive in the form of jokes, teasing, or insults directed at a person or group.
Inappropriate behavior of touching, pinching, patting, fondling, kissing, or cornering pressure for dates and/or sex requests for sex in exchange for grades, salary raises, or promotion.

DISSEMINATION OF THE POLICY

All University Vice Presidents, Deans, and Division and Department Chairs should take appropriate steps to disseminate this policy statement and to inform employees and students of procedures for lodging complaints. All members of the student body, administration, faculty and staff are expected to assist in implementing this policy. Equity Board provides resources to educate the University community on discrimination issues. Refer to Grievance Board and Equity Board descriptions on pages 50 and 53 of the Walsh University Handbook