Sexual Harassment Policy
University of North Carolina - Asheville
Relevant Excerpt
Environmental Sexual Harassment 鈥 Unwelcome conduct, including sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature, that is so severe, persistent, or pervasive and objectively offensive that it alters the conditions of and effectively denies equal access to education, employment, or participation in a University program or activity. Environmental harassment can inflict emotional and psychological harm on individuals and can make relationships and the work or study environment unpleasant, threatening, and unproductive. However, there is no requirement that evidence of actual emotional or physiological harm be shown in order for environmental sexual harassment to be found to have occurred.
In determining whether alleged conduct constitutes sexual harassment as defined in the policy, the record as a whole will be considered as well as the context in which the conduct occurred. 鈥淓nvironmental sexual harassment鈥 normally arises from a repeated or pervasive course of conduct, whereas 鈥渂argained-for sexual harassment鈥 can be based on a single act.