Discrimination and Harassment: A Few Online Resources
Posted on 09/03/20 by SPE Board of Director in Board Member Posts
Discrimination and Harassment: A Few Online Resources
With the start of the fall semester at colleges and universities comes mandatory online discrimination and sexual misconduct training for employees. It is standard practice for the higher education community to undergo this type of training on a regular basis to be aware of recent state and federal developments. You may be serving as department chair or as an advisor who needs to know where to access this type of information. Students, adjuncts and teaching faculty should be familiar with their campus human resources office or Graduate School resources in case you are a bystander, or find yourself on the receiving end of unwanted behaviors.
- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission provides a definition of sexual harassment as well as for age, religious or pay discrimination.
- "Colleges Had 3 Months to Overhaul Sexual-Misconduct Policies. Now They're Scrambling," by Sarah Brown in the August 13, 2020 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education This article highlights changes in the guidelines that became effective August 14, 2020. (Brown linked to the full text in the Federal Register.)
- "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance," was published online in the May 19, 2020 Federal Register, which is the US government's daily newspaper.
- The CU Boulder Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance web page provides definitions of harassment and discrimination. Every college or university will have this type of resource to share with students, staff and faculty.
- Familiarize yourself with local resources. For example, include your Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance and Office of Victim Assistance in orientation packets for graduate part-time instructors, adjuncts and lab managers.
As an organization of educators, SPE is committed to providing a safe networking and educational environment. The Board is finalizing a Code of Conduct which will soon be posted to the website.
Deborah Hollis, SPE Board Member
SPE Communications Committee
