Gender Nondiscrimination

Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Gender/Sexual Harassment Policy

The EMU Community Lifestyle Commitment describes the basic principles guiding the life and interaction of students, faculty and staff. The community is called to follow Christ's example of unselfish love in actions, attitudes, and relationships to reject all forms of harmful discrimination including those based on race, gender, culture and religion.

Additionally, as a participant in programs of Federal financial assistance, EMU is required by Title IX to operate in a manner that does not discriminate on the basis of gender. EMU has adopted grievance procedures providing for the prompt and equitable resolution of student and employee complaints alleging gender discrimination. An employee has been designated to coordinate ongoing efforts to comply with the law including follow-up of any complaints. The name, office address and telephone number of this individual is at the end of this policy statement.

Prohibited gender discrimination includes sexual harassment. Sexual harassment with respect to the faculty-student relationship has been defined as a situation in which "the faculty member covertly or overtly uses the power inherent in the status of a professor to threaten, coerce or intimidate a student to accept sexual advances or risk reprisal in terms of a grade, a recommendation, or even a job." Harassment can include a wide range of behaviors such as unwelcome sexual advances requests, for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: (1) submission to such conduct is made a term or condition of an individual's employment or academic performance; (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for decisions such as employment, promotion, transfer, selection for training, performance evaluation or the basis of academic evaluation; (3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or educational environment or interfering substantially with an employee's work performance or student's academic performance. A detailed policy on sexual harassment is available in the President's Office and Student Life Office.

Complaints of sexual harassment or other gender discrimination may be filed with the following designated coordinator:  Dr. Fred Kniss, Provost’s Office, 1200 Park Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22802, telephone 540-432-4105.

Complaints will be handled through the grievance procedures. Students, faculty and staff who violate this policy will be subject to reprimand, probation, suspension or dismissal.

Revised July, 2011