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Bowling Green State University is committed to providing faculty, staff, and students with an environment where they may pursue their careers or studies free from discrimination. The Office of Equity & Diversity is responsible for administering the University's equal opportunity and anti-harassment policies. The office exists, in part, to ensure that all members of the University community understand their responsibility to create and maintain an environment free from discrimination and harassment.

The University pledges itself to the broad application of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, in particular Titles VI and VII, Executive Order 11246, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, and Chapter 4112 of the Ohio Revised Code.

1. Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Bowling Green State University is committed to providing equal employment opportunity. The University prohibits discrimination against employees and applicants for employment on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, marital status, disability, or status as a Special Disabled or Vietnam-era veteran. The Office of Equity & Diversity, 705 Administration Building, is responsible for equal employment opportunity compliance.

2. Equal Educational Opportunity Policy

Bowling Green State University is committed to providing equal educational opportunity. The University provides access to educational programs and activities without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, marital status, disability, or status as a Special Disabled or Vietnam-era veteran. The policy with respect to sexual orientation does not apply to the University's relationships with outside organizations, including the federal government, the military, and ROTC. The Office of Equity & Diversity , 705 Administration Building, is responsible for equal educational opportunity compliance.

3. Anti-Harassment Policy

Bowling Green State University strives to provide an environment that is free of harassment. The University's policy against discriminatory harassment applies to all faculty, students, staff, contractors, and vendors. The policy covers harassment based on sex, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, age, and status as a Special Disabled or Vietnam-era veteran. Sexual harassment is the subject of a separate policy which is more fully discussed below. Members of the University community should bring problems or questions regarding discriminatory harassment to the attention of the Office of Equity & Diversity.

4. Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is a violation of Chapter 4112 of the Ohio Revised Code, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972. Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

-submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of a person's employment or academic pursuits;

-submission to or rejection of such conduct by a person is used as the basis for employment decisions or academic decisions affecting such individual; or

-such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a person's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or educational environment.

Members of the University community should bring problems or questions regarding sexual harassment to the attention of the Office of Equity & Diversity.

5. Retaliation

Retaliation against members of the Bowing Green State University community who exercise their right to file charges of discrimination or harassment is strictly prohibited by state and federal law and University policy. Retaliation is prohibited whether or not the charging party prevails in the original charge. Subsequent to, or contemporaneous with the charge, no agent of the University may harass, coerce, intimidate, or discriminate against an individual who has filed a complaint or participated in the complaint resolution process. Charges of retaliation will be investigated by the Office of Equity & Diversity.

6. Filing a Complaint

Procedures are in place for resolving allegations of unlawful discrimination, sexual harassment, and other forms of discriminatory harassment. Copies of the procedures may be found in the Office of Equity & Diversity.

(Revised 7/1/01)