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 Sexual Harassment

The University of North Florida is committed to providing all members of the University community, including students, faculty, staff, vendors, visitors, or others, an environment where they can work, study, and interact with each other free from any form of sexual harassment.  

For the purposes of this regulation, sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal (including written and electronic communications) or physical conduct of a sexual nature from any person when: 

1. Submission to such conduct or request is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of a student's status in a course, program, or activity; or of academic achievement;

2. Submission to such conduct or request is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment, salary increase, position advancement, or other employment-related benefits; 

3. Submission to or rejection of such conduct or request by an individual is used as the basis for an academic decision or employment decision affecting such individuals; 

4. Such conduct is sufficiently serious (i.e., severe, persistent or pervasive) to deny or limit a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the University’s educational programs or activities or such conduct is sufficiently severe or pervasive so as to alter the conditions of, or have the purpose and effect of substantially interfering with, a faculty or staff member’s employment by creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment. 

In determining whether alleged conduct constitutes sexual harassment in violation of this regulation, the conduct will be evaluated from the perspective of a reasonable person in the alleged victim’s position considering the totality of the circumstances, such as the nature of the alleged conduct and the context in which the alleged conduct occurred. Accordingly, consideration will be given to free speech and academic freedom within an academic context. For example, expression that is intended to facilitate discourse or debate in a classroom setting or open debate forum may be considered appropriate, but similar expression in the workplace may be unwelcome and inappropriate in the context of communications between employees. 

All members of the University community are responsible for ensuring that their conduct does not sexually harass any other member of the University community. This same responsibility extends to, vendors, contractors (including the employees of third parties), visitors, or others on the University’s campus or at any University sponsored or University related function or activity. 
 

Any member of the University community who believes that he or she has been subjected to sexual harassment; any member of the community who believes that he or she has been subjected to retaliation related to an allegation of sexual harassment; or any member of the community who believes that others have been subjected to sexual harassment in violation of this regulation, may seek guidance, counseling or file a complaint in accordance with this regulation by contacting: Director, Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, University of North Florida, J. J. Daniel Hall, Suite 2400, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32224-7699, (904) 620-2507 Voice & TDD and (904) 620-1004 Fax. 

To view the University's current official policy, click here.