The Connecticut State University declares:
- Institutions within the Connecticut State University have a duty to foster tolerance;
- The promotion of racial, religious, and ethnic pluralism within the University is the responsibility of all individuals within the University community;
- Every person within the University community should be treated with dignity and assured security and equality;
- Individuals may not exercise personal freedoms in ways that invade or violate the rights of others;
- Acts of violence and harassment reflecting bias or intolerance of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and ethnic or cultural origins are unacceptable; and
- The University shall take appropriate corrective action if such acts of violence or harassment occur.
Procedures
Filing of Complaints
If a student's conduct is alleged to be inconsistent with the standards of conduct of this document, or if a student is alleged to have committed a proscribed act under the Student Rights and Responsibilities document, a complaint may be filed in the Office of Student Affairs or Office of Housing and Residential Life (if the alleged act occurred in a University residence hall).
If a faculty or staff member is alleged to have committed an act inconsistent with the Standards of Conduct, a complaint may be filed in the Office of Equity and Diversity.
Complaints involving criminal acts motivated by bigotry or bias against any member of the University community shall be filed with the University Police.
Resolution of Complaints
STUDENTS
When a complaint is filed against one or more students, the Office of Student Affairs will determine whether the offense is covered by the Students Rights and Responsibilities document. If so, the complaint will be handled through the existing University student conduct process for resolving complaints against students.
If the complaint is one of the offensive behavior or verbal harassment that does not meet the "fighting words" test, and is therefore not covered by the Student Conduct code, the complainant and the person alleged to have committed the offense will be referred to the Office of Equity and Diversity. Efforts will be made to resolve the complaint through mediation, conciliation, or education. This conciliation procedure will not result in a written record.
FACULTY AND STAFF
When a complaint is brought against a faculty or staff member, the complainant will be referred to the Office of Equity and Diversity. If the complaint is one of discrimination, sexual harassment, or conduct which meets the "fighting words" test, the complaint may be resolved through the University's Procedures for Investigating Discrimination and Harassment Complaints.
Complaints involving offensive words or conduct, including those which do not meet the "fighting words" test, should be resolved by the Office of Equity and Diversity by mediation, conciliation, or education. Use of the conciliation procedure will not result in a written record.
Establishment of procedure to record number, type and disposition of incidents, complaint and grievances:
University Police, as required by law, shall investigate and report any such acts of intolerance deemed to be criminal offenses.
All incidents of sexual harassment and discrimination will be reported to the Office of Equity and Diversity. That office will record the number, type and disposition of incidents, complaints, or grievances for an annual report to the president of the University.
