Guide to Student Life - Campus Life - Adelphi University

97 committed to preventing such conduct, investigating complaints of inappropriate conduct and
remedying violations of this policy. Any employee, faculty member or student who believes
that he/she is or may be subjected to objectionable conduct are strongly encouraged to
report it immediately to an Anti-Harassment Panel member.
No member of the University community should allow an inappropriate situation to continue
by not reporting it, regardless of who is creating that situation. Furthermore, no supervisor or
manager is exempt from reporting misconduct in violation of this policy. Those inflicting such
behavior on others are subject to the full range of institutional disciplinary actions, up to and
including separation from the University and/or referral to authorities for criminal prosecution,
as appropriate.
Because the relationship between teacher and student is central to the academic mission of the
University, it is essential to establish that the standard of expected conduct in that relationship
goes beyond the proscription against sexual harassment as defined in the University’s policy. No
nonacademic or personal ties should be allowed to interfere with the academic integrity of the
teacher-student relationship. With respect to sexual relations in particular, what might appear to
be consensual, even to the parties involved, may in fact not be so.
On this basis, any sexual relations between any teacher and any student, or other person
in a supervisory role and any student are inappropriate. This category includes relations
between a graduate student and an undergraduate student, when the graduate student has
some supervisory and/or academic responsibility for the undergraduate student. In addition,
it includes relations between an administrator, coach, adviser, program director, counselor or
residential staff member who has supervisory responsibility for a student. The University deems
such relations to be unethical. The Anti-Harassment Panel members will respond to reports
brought to them of inappropriate and unethical sexual behavior and will act to help ensure the
protection of its students and the maintenance of the integrity of the University.
In order to discourage such sexual relations, in acting on complaints that come to the
University’s attention, any complaint of sexual harassment by a student against an individual
will be presumed to be a violation of this policy if sexual relations have occurred between
them while the individual was teaching or otherwise had, or is likely to have, supervisory
responsibility or academic/professional influence over the student.
Additionally, any sexual relations between a supervisor and an employee they supervise is
inappropriate.
Other Elements
Failure to recognize that one’s behavior is sexually harassing to an individual or group of
individuals is not a suitable response to an allegation of harassment. Differences in perception
on the part of individuals who have complained of harassment have led to court rulings based
on the reasonable person standard in evaluating offensive behavior. Accordingly, all members of
the University community should consider how others may view their behavior, and not just how
they view it personally.
Gender-based harassment or behavior that ridicules, denigrates and/or harasses a person
because of his/her gender may not be sexual in nature, but may constitute a hostile work or
learning environment resulting in harassment and will not be tolerated.
ADELPHI UNIVERSITY • GUIDE TO STUDENT LIFE
Harassment that is not directed toward a specific individual may still create a hostile or
offensive work or learning environment for individuals, and is also prohibited by this policy
(e.g., pornographic materials on an office desk). In addition, conduct that is directed to another
individual may create a hostile or offensive work or learning environment to a third party who