Policies

SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY

Orange County Community College has the responsibility for preventing sexual harassment of our workforce and of our student body. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces sexual harassment guidelines. Sexual harassment is a violation of federal law under Section 703 of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as amended by the Equal Employment opportunity Act of 1972; under the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and other human rights and equal opportunity laws.

WHAT IS THE LAW?

Employees
In 1980, The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued guidelines under Title VII which state that unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:

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

Students
Sexual harassment of students is a violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex discrimination in education. Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature where grades or educational progress are made contingent upon submission to such conduct, or where the conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with the individual's academic performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment.

WHAT IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT?
Sexual harassment takes many forms, from constant joking to physical assault. It may involve threats that you will fail in class or that you will lose your job. It may make your study, work, or living environment uncomfortable through continued sexual comments, suggestions or pressure. It may include the following unwanted behaviors:

Verbal

sexual innuendo
derogatory or dehumanizing gender reference
humor or jokes that are sexual in nature
offensive remarks or insults about someone's body, clothing, or activities
sexual propositions
overt demands or threats

Nonverbal

leering or whistling
suggestive or insulting sounds and gestures
written notes
displays of degrading sexual images

Physical

unnecessary touching, pinching, or grabbing
blocking or impeding movement
attempted or achieved fondling or kissing
coerced sexual contact

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Indicate that the conduct is unwelcome. Be firm.
Keep a record of what happened and when. Include dates, times, places, names of persons involved and witnesses, and who said what to whom.
Notify the Affirmative Action Officer or the Vice President for Student Services, who will offer supportive counseling and inform you of your options, and/or
Use the college's Affirmative Action internal complaint procedure.

INTERNAL RESOURCES
The Affirmative Action Office is always available to discuss alleged incidents or problems associated with sexual harassment. Employees and students may simply inquire in confidence about their options or they may choose to file an internal complaint using SUNY Orange's Grievance Procedure for the Review of Allegations of Sexual Harassment. For further information, contact: (845) 341-4660.

CONFIDENTIALITY
Because of the sensitive nature and potential consequences of a sexual harassment complaint, every effort will be made to maintain confidentiality within the limits of the law. All participants in a complaint must maintain due regard to confidentiality.

EXTERNAL RESOURCES
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
90 Church Street
New York, NY 10007

Office of Sexual Harassment Issues
NYS Division of Human Rights
55 Hanson Place, Suite 307
Brooklyn, NY 11217 1-800-427-2773

Orange County Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. In accordance with Federal regulations, the New York State Human Rights Law and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Orange County Community College does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, race/gender or sexual orientation in employment or in the educational programs and activities which it operates.

Human Resources Information:

Phone: (845) 341-4660
Fax: (845) 341-4670
Located in Orange Hall,
115 South Street Middletown, NY 10940
occchr@sunyorange.edu