National Louis University seeks to provide for its students, faculty, administration, and staff an environment that is free from sexual harassment. The following policy statement and procedural guidelines address sexual harassment, which is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
Policy
It is the policy of National Louis University to prohibit the sexual harassment of any member of its community by any other person or persons who are affiliated with the University in any way. No employee or student of the University is expected to endure insulting, degrading, or exploitative treatment.
Harassment on the basis of sex is recognized as a form of sex discrimination, which is prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As defined in the 1980 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Guidelines On Sexual Harassment, sexual harassment encompasses “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature” such as intentional patting, pinching, touching, or other sexually suggestive behavior. Sexual harassment occurs when:
- Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or educational experience, creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment, educational, or living environment for an individual.
- Such conduct has the purpose or effect of abusing the dignity of an employee or student through insulting or degrading sexual remarks or conduct.
- Submission to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of an individual’s employment or of a student’s status in a course, program or activity.
- Submission to or rejection of such conduct is the basis for academic or employment decisions affecting an individual.
- Such conduct directed against an individual persists despite requests for its cessation and/or when a claim of sexual harassment has resulted in retaliation against employees/students for complaining about such behavior.
Because of the seriousness of allegations made in this regard, any individual who knowingly or deliberately makes a false accusation shall be subject to disciplinary action.
Procedures
A member of the University community who believes that they have been involved in an incident of sexual harassment or who becomes aware of an incident of sexual harassment as defined above should bring any such matter to the attention of their immediate supervisor, if employed, and the supervisor is not involved, or the Chief Legal Officer of the University by email at mjohnson@nl.edu or by phone/fax at 312.261.3935. The individual may initiate the action through the process with mediation or with formal review. The complainant who chooses mediation does not relinquish the option of formal review.
After reviewing all pertinent information and interviewing those involved The Chief Legal Officer or designated investigator shall recommend a course of action to the Director of Student Experience.
Option I: Mediation
An individual who seeks mediation may be accompanied by a fellow student, staff member or faculty member, if desired. The Chief Legal Officer or the designated hearing officer shall immediately seek to resolve the matter by informal discussions and through mediation with the persons involved.
Strict confidentiality will be maintained.
Option II: Formal Review
The complainant may secure a review of the matter by filing a formal request with the General Counsel’s Office. After reviewing all pertinent information and interviewing all those involved, the General Counsel’s Office or the designated hearing officer shall recommend a course of action to the Director of Student Experience. The Director of Student Experience shall then decide on the course of action that may include any of the following:
- No further action
- Further investigation needed
- Warning
- Behavioral Contract (probation)
- Suspension
- Dismissal
A copy of the decided course of action will be kept on file in the General Counsel’s Office. The alleged party may, at that time, file an appeal with the appropriate appeal system if they wish to contest the action.
Additionally, a student or applicant who believes that she/he has been sexually harassed can file a Charge of Discrimination at their regional U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. For example, the Illinois and Wisconsin Regional Office is at 111 N. Canal Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. A student or applicant may also file a Charge of Discrimination at their state Fair Employment Practices agency, such as the Department of Human Rights, 100 W. Randolph Street, James R. Thompson Center, Suite 10-100, Chicago, Illinois 60601.