Protection Against Sexual Harassment

Policy Statement on Sexual Harassment

Federal law, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, provides that it shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any employer, because of the sex of any person, to discharge without just cause, to refuse to hire, or otherwise to discriminate against that person with respect to any matter directly or indirectly related to employment. Harassment of any employee on the basis of sex violates this federal law.

To help clarify what is unlawful sexual harassment the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued Guidelines on the subject. While the EEOC Title VII Guidelines apply only to faculty and other employees, Title IX, administered by the U.S. Education Department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR), also protects students from sexual harassment. Accordingly, the University prohibits sexual harassment of any member of the Columbia community, whether such harassment is aimed at students, faculty, or other employees, and violators will be subject to disciplinary action. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature will constitute sexual harassment when:

1. submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment;

2. submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for academic or employment decisions affecting that individual; or,

3. such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's academic or work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive academic or working environment.

Any person who believes that he or she is being sexually harassed may choose to seek a resolution of the problem through discussion with the person directly concerned. If this does not resolve the matter, or if there is a reluctance to deal directly with the person involved, the problem should then be brought to the attention of a member of the University Panel on Sexual Harassment. Advice may also be sought from the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, 402 Low Memorial Library or 101 Bard Hall, (212) 854-5511, or the Ombuds Office, 660 Schermerhorn Extension or 101 Bard Hall, (212) 854-1234. If these steps do not resolve the problem, the applicable University grievance procedure should be used. The University Discrimination Grievance Procedure is available if no other University grievance procedure is specifically applicable. No one at the University may retaliate in any way against a person who makes a claim of sexual harassment.

Charge of the University Panel on Sexual Harassment

The Columbia Panel on Sexual Harassment is composed of trusted, accessible, and sympathetic members of the University community who act as informal mediators. Their goal is the protection and counseling of any member of the University who is made to feel personally pressured or uncomfortable because of the behavior of another University member. Members of the Panel provide a safe, impartial, nonadversarial setting in which the problem can be considered or solved through confidential counseling and, when requested, mediation between the complainant and the alleged harasser. The Panel thus provides guidance and protection for the accused as well, identifying false or mistaken accusations, misunderstandings, or unconscious behavior. Panel members are also a link through which the University can take account of, and take appropriate action against, those on campus who are behaving illegally. The Panel on Sexual Harassment is thus a timely, protective, and compassionate arm of the University, one that not only sensitizes and educates the University community but also demonstrates the University's commitment to fair treatment of all its members.

Reporting Sexual Harassment

Information about going to a panelist and initiating a formal investigation is reprinted in FACETS (Facts About Columbia Essential To Students), available in 203 Lewisohn or on the Web (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/facets/).

Panel Membership List

Names and contact information for members of the Columbia University Panel on Sexual Harassment are listed in FACETS (Facts About Columbia Essential To Students), available in 203 Lewisohn or on the World Wide Web (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/facets/).

Romantic Relationship Advisory Statement

Faculty and staff members are cautioned that consensual romantic relationships with student members of the University community, while not expressly prohibited, can prove problematic. A faculty or staff member involved in such a relationship with a student is expected to remove him/herself from academic or professional decisions concerning the student. The Provost has, however, authorized some departments to adopt more restrictive policies. Individuals with questions about the position of their department are encouraged to raise them with their department head.

Should a romantic relationship with a student lead to a charge of sexual harassment against a faculty or staff member, the University will pursue it in accordance with its Sexual Harassment Policy and applicable grievance procedure. Questions about this Advisory Statement may be directed to Associate Provost Beth Wilson, Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, 402 Low Memorial Library or 101 Bard Hall, (212) 854-5511. For the complete statement, please see Appendix E of FACETS (Facts About Columbia Essential To Students), available in 203 Lewisohn or on the World Wide Web (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/facets/).

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