East Carolina University Faculty Manual

APPENDIX V.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

II. Policy on Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Conflicts of Interest

A. Introduction

Sexual harassment and discrimination are illegal and endanger the environment of tolerance, civility, and mutual respect that must prevail if the University is to fulfill its mission. East Carolina University is committed to providing and promoting an atmosphere in which employees can realize their maximum potential in the work place and students can engage fully in the learning process.

Further, amorous relations between a student and a University employee who is responsible for supervising or evaluating the student, or between an employee and the person supervising that employee may derogate the merit principle of supervision and evaluation. This policy is the university's statement of its intent to prohibit sexual harassment and discrimination, and to prohibit amorous relations between the University's employees and students, and employees and supervisors when these relations create a risk of favoritism.

B. Definitions

1. Sexual Harassment

The following constitute sexual harassment:

a. Making verbal remarks or committing physical actions that propose to people of either sex that they engage in or tolerate activities of a sexual nature in order to avoid some punishment or to receive some reward;

b. Singling out people of either sex and creating or attempting to create a hostile university or working environment or otherwise attempting to harm or harming people because of their sex.

c. Continuing verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when the person or persons the conduct is directed toward has indicated clearly, by word or action, that this conduct is unwanted.

2. Sexual Discrimination

Sexual discrimination consists of actions that subject employees or students to unequal treatment on the basis of their sex.

3. Conflicts of Interest

Consensual amorous relationships in which one person is responsible for supervising or evaluating the other create conflicts of interest because they impair or reasonably can be expected to impair the professional judgment of the supervisor.

C. Policy

It is the responsibility of members of the university community to strive to create an environment free of sexual harassment and discrimination, and free of unprofessional bias in the supervision and evaluation of students and employees.

1. It is against the policies of East Carolina University for its employees or students to propose to other employees or students that they engage in or tolerate activities of a sexual nature in order to avoid some punishment or to receive some reward.

2. It is against the policies of East Carolina University for its employees or students to create a hostile University or work‑place environment for an individual or group because of the individual's or the group's sex.

3. It is against the policies of East Carolina University for its employees or students to subject other employees or students to unequal treatment on the basis of their sex.

4. It is against the policies of East Carolina University for its employees or students to continue verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when the employees or students of the University toward whom such conduct is directed indicate clearly, by word or action, that such conduct is unwanted.

5. It is against the policies of East Carolina University for any employee of the university to engage in consensual amorous relationships with students or other university employees whom the employee is or will be supervising or evaluating. (This policy does not apply in cases where both the amorous relationship and the supervising or evaluating relationship were initiated before the policy's adoption date.)