Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment

Thomas Edison State University is committed to maintaining an academic environment free from discrimination and harassment. The University prohibits sexual harassment and discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, or affectional or sexual orientation, disability or nationality.

Hostile environment harassment based on any of these protected categories is also prohibited. Sexual harassment refers to unwelcome conduct based on a person’s sex, including sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

1. Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a condition of an individual’s academic success.
2. Submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for academic decisions affecting an individual.
3. Such conduct interferes with an individual’s academic performance or creates a hostile academic environment.

Any student who believes that he or she has been sexually harassed or discriminated against by a mentor or College staff member should file a complaint with the University’s Title IX Coordinator and Equity/Diversity Office Heather Brooks, hbrooks@tesu.edu. If a student believes that another student has harassed or discriminated against him or her, the student should file a complaint with the Office of the Associate Vice President and the University Registrar at (609) 984-1180 or cpunchello@tesu.edu. Students are encouraged to make timely reports so that a satisfactory resolution is more likely.

Policy Against Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

Any of the following acts are prohibited and could lead to suspension or dismissal from the University:

If a student acts with the purpose to bully, intimidate, and harass another person by:

• Making, or causing to be made, a communication or communications (including the use of electronic and/or social media) anonymously or at extremely inconvenient hours, or in offensively coarse language, or any other manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm; or
• Subjecting another to striking, kicking, shoving, or other offensive touching, or threatening to do so; or
• Engaging in any other course of alarming conduct or of repeatedly committed acts with purpose to alarm or seriously annoy such other person, such that the behavior substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the institution or the rights of other students to participate in or benefit from the education program.

This policy is in addition to the University’s Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment.  Issues arising from this policy will be investigated and adjudicated in accordance with the University’s Non-Academic Code of Conduct.