II. Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy

Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy

Richard Bland College is committed to fostering an environment in which all members of our community are safe, secure, and free from discrimination and harassment. The complete Richard Bland College Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy can be found in the RBC Policy Manual Within the policy, the following definitions are outlined:

1. Discrimination – Inequitable treatment of a person based on one or more of that person’s protected characteristics or statuses, excepting any treatment permitted or required by law. — that excludes an individual from participation in, denies the individual the benefits of, treats the individual differently or otherwise adversely affects a term or condition of an individual’s employment, education, living environment or participation in an educational program or activity. This includes failing to provide reasonable accommodation, consistent with state and federal law, to persons with disabilities.
2. Harassment – Unwelcome conduct directed against a person based on one or more of that person’s protected characteristics or statuses, which conduct is so severe or pervasive that it interferes with an individual’s employment, academic performance or participation in University programs or activities, and creates a working, learning, program or activity environment that a reasonable person would find intimidating, hostile or offensive.
3. Retaliation – Retaliation is intimidation, threats, harassment, and other adverse action taken or threatened against (1) any Reporting Party or person reporting or filing a complaint alleging Prohibited Conduct or (2) any person cooperating in the investigation of an allegation of Prohibited Conduct including testifying, assisting, or participating in any manner in an investigation pursuant to this policy. Action is generally deemed adverse if it would deter a reasonable person in the same circumstances from opposing practices prohibited by this policy. Retaliation may result in disciplinary or other action independent of the sanctions or interim measures imposed in response to the underlying allegations of Prohibited Conduct.

Discrimination and harassment violations as described in the Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation are subject to the Student Code of Conduct. Those acts of misconduct involving sexual or gender-based discrimination and other interpersonal violence, pursuant to Title IX, are subject to the College’s Sexual and Gender-based and Other Interpersonal Violence Grievance Procedure.