Appendix 4: WHITTIER COLLEGE STATEMENT ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Sexual harassment is unacceptable at Whittier College and is in conflict with the mission, goals and policies of the institution. It has been determined to be a violation of civil rights laws by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and by the courts.

Sexual harassment is an abuse of power, for it is defined as sexual attention imposed on someone not in a position to refuse it. It includes unwelcomed sexual advances or requests explicitly or implicitly affecting educational or employment decisions concerning an individual. Offensive sexual flirtations, verbal abuse of a sexual nature and sexually degrading words used to describe an individual are also included in the definition because they may have the intent or affect of creating a hostile or intimidating educational or work environment and/or may interfere with an individual's performance.

Any member of the Whittier College community who thinks he or she has been the victim of sexual harassment is encouraged to raise the issue initially through the College sanctioned informal avenues described below. If this informal mechanism is not adequate, formal complaint procedures should be followed.

Any informal or formal grievance proceedings will be conducted with as much confidentiality as possible. The College will act to protect the rights of the offended person as well as those of the accused.

Informal Complaint Procedures

Students

Any student who has a complaint about sexual harassment ordinarily should see the Dean of Students. (If there is reason to see another individual, the Dean of Faculty is an appropriate alternative.) The Dean will counsel with the student, maintaining strict confidentiality and providing advice on handling the situation. The Dean also will inform the student of the formal complaint procedures and work with the student if there is a desire to lodge a formal complaint. He or she will inform the student of the institution's responsibility to the alleged offender also.

Faculty

Any faculty member who has a complaint about sexual harassment should talk with the Dean of Faculty or with the Dean of Students. The Dean will handle the situation informally unless the faculty member wishes to make a formal complaint. If this is the case, the Dean will then describe the formal complaint procedure, including information about the institution's responsibilities to the alleged offender. The Dean will work with the faculty member to assist that person in following proper procedures.

Support Staff

Any staff member who has a sexual harassment complaint should talk with the Vice President for Finance and Administration or the Dean of Students. The complaint will be handled informally unless there is a desire to lodge a formal charge. In this situation the Vice President or Dean will explain the complaint procedure, including information about the institution's responsibility to the alleged offender. The Vice President or Dean will assist the staff person in following proper procedures.

Formal Complaint Procedures for Students, Faculty, Administrators and Support Staff

The formal complaint process begins when the offended puts his or her complaint in writing to the Dean or Vice President who has responsibility for the area of employment of the accused. That Dean or Vice President must insure that the complaint is investigated through the described hearing process. No anonymous complaints will be considered legitimate.

The Board that hears complaints of sexual harassment when the accused is a faculty member, administrator or staff member is appointed by the President of the College and will include three individuals at least one of whom will be a woman. This group will hear the case, following due process and maintaining strict confidentiality. If the offended party is a student, he or she may request the Dean of College Life or another administrator or faculty member to accompany her or him to the hearing. Following testimony, the hearing board will make a recommendation to the Vice President or Dean, depending on the area of employment of the accused. Appeals to any decision of a Vice President or Dean would go to the President of the College.