BULLYING AND HARASSMENT

Cambria College is committed to providing an environment that is free from sexual harassment and other types of discriminatory harassment.  Employees, students and staff, are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner that is consistent with the Code of Conduct.

Prohibition of Sexual Harassment:

Cambria College’s policy against sexual harassment prohibits sexual advances or requests for sexual favors or other physical or verbal conduct of a sexual nature, when: (1) submission to such conduct is made an express or implicit condition of employment; (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as a basis for employment decisions affecting the individual who submits to or rejects such conduct; or

(3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an student’s performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating, or offensive working environment.

While it is not possible to list all of the circumstances which would constitute sexual

harassment, the following are some examples:  (1) unwelcome sexual advances, whether they involve physical touching or not; (2) requests for sexual favors in exchange for actual or promised job benefits such as favorable reviews, salary increases, promotions, increased benefits, or continued employment; or (3) coerced sexual acts.

Depending on the circumstances, the following conduct may also constitute sexual

harassment:  (1) use of sexual epithets, jokes, written or oral references to sexual conduct, gossip regarding one’s sex life; (2) sexually oriented comment on an individual’s body, comment about an individual’s sexual activity, deficiencies, or prowess; (3) displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons; (4) unwelcome leering, whistling, deliberate brushing against the body in a suggestive manner; (5) sexual gestures or sexually suggestive comments; (6) inquiries into one’s sexual experiences; or (7) discussion of one’s sexual activities.

Prohibition of Bullying and Other Types of Harassment:  It is also against Cambria College’s policy to engage in verbal or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of his or her race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, or other protected category or reason (or that of the individual’s relatives, friends, or associates) that:

(1) has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating, or offensive working environment; (2) has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance; or (3) otherwise adversely affects an individual’s employment opportunities.

Depending on the circumstances, the following conduct may constitute bullying and discriminatory (or other) harassment:  (1) epithets, slurs, negative stereotyping, jokes, or threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts that relate to race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability; and

(2) written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility toward an individual or group because of race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability and that is circulated in the workplace, or placed anywhere in Cambria College’s premises such as on an employee’s desk or workspace or on Cambria College’s equipment or bulletin boards.  Other conduct may also constitute discriminatory harassment if it falls within the definition of discriminatory harassment set forth above. Bullying includes but is not limited to: verbal aggression or insults, calling of derogatory names, harmful hazing or initiation practices, vandalizing personal belongings and spreading malicious rumors.

It is also against Cambria College’s policy to retaliate against a student for filing a complaint of bullying or discriminatory (or other) harassment or for cooperating in an investigation of a complaint of discriminatory harassment.

Reporting of Harassment:  If you believe that you have experienced or witnessed sexual harassment or other discriminatory harassment or bullying by any employee of Cambria College, you should report the incident immediately to your onsite administrator or to the campus director.  Possible harassment by others with whom Cambria College has a business relationship, including customers and vendors, should also be reported as soon as possible so that appropriate action can be taken.

Cambria College will promptly and thoroughly investigate all reports of harassment as discreetly and confidentially as practicable.  The investigation would generally include a private interview with the person making a report of harassment.  It would also generally be necessary to discuss allegations of harassment with the accused individual and others who may have information relevant to the investigation.  Cambria College’s goal is to conduct a thorough investigation, to determine whether harassment occurred, and to determine what action to take if it is determined that improper behavior occurred.

If Cambria College determines that a violation of this policy has occurred, it will take appropriate disciplinary action against the offending party, which can include counseling, warnings, suspensions, and termination.

Students who report violations of this policy and employees who cooperate with investigations into alleged violations of this policy will not be subject to retaliation.  Upon completion of the investigation, Cambria College will inform the employee who made the complaint of the results of the investigation.