Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment creates a hostile environment if the harassing conduct is sufficiently serious to deny or limit the student's ability to participate in or benefit from an education program (and activities).

At Michigan Tech there is no place for discrimination or discriminatory harassment. These behaviors by any member of the Michigan Tech community are prohibited and are subject to disciplinary procedures up to and including discharge (Board of Trustees Policy 5.3).

Sexual harassment may be verbal, physical, or visual and may include

  • derogatory, offensive, threatening or intimidating comments, epithets, slurs, or jokes;
  • references to gender, physical appearance, attire, sexual prowess, marital status, or pregnancy;
  • sexual advances, propositions, or demands;
  • displayed or circulated derogatory or offensive posters, cartoons, drawings, photographs, pin-ups, computer images, or electronic media transmission;
  • unwelcome or unnecessary and offensive touching, such as assault, battery, kissing, hugging, patting, rubbing, groping, pinching, or brushing up against;
  • staring, leering, gesturing, whistling, impeding, or blocking movement;
  • pressure to spend time with a professor/teaching assistant/staff member/other student outside the academic setting, to get intimately involved or asked personal questions of sexual nature that make a student feel uncomfortable; and
  • asking a student directly for sexual favors in exchange for a better/passing grade, assignment, or a favorable recommendation (quid pro quo).

Students who are sexually harassed can be confused, worried, or angry. They may have questions on how to handle the situation. They may fear retaliation. Many are worried that they are to blame for the situation.

If a student complains of sexual harassment, as a responsible employee, you must report to the Title IX coordinator.

Online sexual harassment training is available to the entire campus community: Michigan Tech Sexual Harassment Training.