Purdue News

February 16, 1992 PURDUE SETS NEW SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY WEST LAFAYETTE, IND.-Purdue University today (2/16) announced a new sexual harassment policy. Purdue President Steven C. Beering approved the policy and will distribute it in the form of an executive memorandum. Judith M. Gappa, vice president for human relations, will issue procedures for handling complaints of sexual harassment. "All faculty, staff and students need to make it a priority not only to familiarize themselves with the policy but also to foster an environment free of all forms of sexual harassment and to promote understanding," Beering said. "Sexual harassment is demeaning, nonproductive and contrary to the ideals of a university. It stifles individual talent, which is our most precious commodity." The new policy defines sexual harassment as "any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other written, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature." Behavior of a sexual nature will be considered harassment when it affects an individual's employment, education or participation in a university activity, or creates an intimidating, offensive or hostile work or education environment. The new policy is effective immediately and applies to all Purdue faculty, staff and students when acting in a university capacity, even when they are off-campus. The change is the first major revision to the university's sexual harassment policy since August 1982. The new policy addresses situations that include those in which a university employee develops a relationship with a subordinate or a faculty member develops a relationship with a student. Faculty and staff members who violate the sexual harassment policy may be held personally liable for any damages or settlement costs the university may incur. Among the key points of the accompanying procedures are: * Individuals with complaints must report the incident(s) within 120 days of the occurrence. They may report it to a supervisor or department head or the Office of the Dean of Students, the Personnel Services Office, the Women's Resource Office, the Affirmative Action Office or the Graduate School Office. * Complaints of sexual harassment may be handled through informal advice, mediation or a formal complaint. Mediators on the West Lafayette campus may be the dean of students, director of personnel services, executive vice president for academic affairs, director of affirmative action, director of the Women's Resource Office or dean of the Graduate School or their designee(s). * Persons who want to file formal complaints in addition to pursuing informal procedures must do so in writing to the vice president for human relations within 15 days from the end of the informal procedure. The vice president will appoint a three-person investigative panel, typically within 10 days from receipt of the formal complaint. * Individuals determined to have violated the policy can appeal the determination or sanction imposed, but it must be within 10 days from the issuance of the final determination. The sexual harassment policy and procedures are the result of the work of a Sexual Harassment Task Force; numerous suggestions from students, faculty and staff at all of Purdue's campuses; and advice by legal counsel. Gappa said the procedures, which apply to all instances of sexual harassment involving students, faculty and staff, are markedly different from other grievance procedures at Purdue. "Thus, I am issuing them as interim procedures," Gappa said. "We will implement them now, monitor how well they work, invite comments from appropriate groups, and then revise and reissue them." In conjunction with the new sexual harassment policy, Gappa has assigned Professor Dorothy Leland of Purdue's Department of Philosophy to design and carry out a comprehensive program of training and education to prevent sexual harassment. The program will include educating faculty, staff and students on the type of behavior that is sexually harassing; making information available to victims and potential victims; informing administrators and supervisors about proper methods to address sexual harassment complaints; and providing guidelines and training for following the interim procedures. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page