Prohibition of Harassment Policy

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PROHIBITION OF HARASSMENT

All forms of harassment are contrary to basic standards of conduct between individuals and are prohibited by state and federal law, as well as this policy, and will not be tolerated. The District is committed to providing an academic and work environment that respects the dignity of individuals and groups. The District shall be free of sexual harassment and all forms of sexual intimidation and exploitation including acts of sexual violence. It shall also be free of other unlawful harassment, including that which is based on any of the following statuses: race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, or sexual orientation of any person, or because he or she is perceived to have one or more of the foregoing characteristics.

The District seeks to foster an environment in which all employees, students, unpaid interns and volunteers feel free to report incidents of harassment without fear of retaliation or reprisal. Therefore, the District also strictly prohibits retaliation against any individual for filing a complaint of harassment or for participating in a harassment investigation. Such conduct is illegal and constitutes a violation of this policy. All allegations of retaliation will be swiftly and thoroughly investigated. If the District determines that retaliation has occurred, it will take all reasonable steps within its power to stop such conduct. Individuals who engage in retaliatory conduct are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination or expulsion.

Any student, employee, unpaid intern or volunteer who believes that he or she has been harassed or retaliated against in violation of this policy should immediately report such incidents by following the procedures described in AR 3435 Discrimination and Harassment Investigations. Supervisors are mandated to report all incidents of harassment and retaliation that come to their attention.

This policy applies to all aspects of the academic environment, including but not limited to classroom conditions, grades, academic standing, employment opportunities, scholarships, recommendations, disciplinary actions, and participation in any community college activity. In addition, this policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to hiring, placement, promotion, disciplinary action, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, training opportunities and compensation.

To this end the Superintendent/President or designee shall ensure that the institution undertakes education and training activities to counter discrimination and to prevent, minimize and/or eliminate any hostile environment that impairs access to equal education opportunity or impacts the terms and conditions of employment.

The Superintendent/President or designee shall establish administrative regulations that define harassment on campus. The Superintendent/President or designee shall further establish regulations for employees, students, unpaid interns, volunteers and other members of the campus community that provide for the investigation and resolution of complaints regarding harassment and discrimination, and procedures for students to resolve complaints of harassment and discrimination. All participants are protected from retaliatory acts by the District, its employees, students, and agents.

This policy and related written regulations (including the regulation for making complaints) shall be widely published and publicized to administrators, faculty, staff, students, unpaid interns and volunteers particularly when they are new to the institution, as required in Education Code 66281.5. They shall be available for students, employees, unpaid interns, and volunteers in all administrative offices, and shall be posted on the District’s website. Employees who violate the policy and regulations may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination. Students who violate this policy and related regulations may be subject to disciplinary measures up to and including expulsion. Unpaid interns who violate this policy and related procedures may be subject to disciplinary measures up to and including termination from the internship or other unpaid work experience program.

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