Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC) is committed to providing both employment and educational environments free of harassment, physical assault, or discrimination related to an individual’s race, color, national origin, religion, marital status, disability, gender, age, sex, sexual orientation, or other protected class as defined by federal and state law. Such harassment, discrimination, and assault are violations of NACC and the Alabama Community College System policies. Discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and national origin is illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Discrimination on the basis of sex is illegal under Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972. Discrimination on the basis of age is illegal under the Age Discrimination Act of 1975.
A nondiscriminatory environment is essential to the mission of the College. Any practice or behavior that constitutes harassment, physical assault, or discrimination shall not be tolerated on campus, at any off-campus site, or in any division or department by any employee, student, agent, or non-employee on the institution’s property and while engaged in any institutionally-sponsored activities. It is within this commitment of providing a harassment-free environment and in keeping with the efforts to establish an employment and educational environment in which the dignity and worth of members of the college community are respected that harassment, physical assault, and discrimination of students and employees is unacceptable conduct and shall not be tolerated at the College.
For these purposes, the term “harassment” includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the following: slurs, jokes, or other verbal, graphic, or physical conduct relating to an individual’s race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity, transgender status, pregnancy, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, military or veteran’s status, genetic information, age or any other characteristic that is protected by applicable state or federal law or the Alabama Community College System policies. Harassment also includes Sexual Harassment, which is forbidden by the NACC Code of Conduct and the College’s Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy. Complaints of Title IX sexual harassment can be made according to the procedures outlined in the College’s Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy. Complaints for harassment that fall outside the purview of Title IX sexual harassment will be governed by the Code of Conduct and general complaint policies.
Employees and students of the College shall strive to promote an environment that fosters personal integrity where the worth and dignity of each human being is realized, where democratic principles are promoted, and where efforts are made to assist colleagues and students to realize their full potential as worthy and effective members of society. Administrators, professional staff, faculty, and support staff shall adhere to the highest ethical standards to ensure a professional environment and to guarantee equal educational opportunities for all students.
The employees of the College determine the ethical and moral tone for the College through both their personal conduct and their job performance. Therefore, each employee must be dedicated to the ideals of honor and integrity in all public and personal relationships. Relationships between College personnel of different ranks, including that of instructors and students, which involve partiality, preferential treatment, or the improper use of position shall be avoided. Further, such relationships may have the effect of undermining the atmosphere of trust on which the educational process depends. Implicit in the idea of professionalism is the recognition by those in positions of authority that in their relationships with students or employees there is always an element of power. It is incumbent on those with authority not to abuse the power with which they are entrusted.
All personnel shall be aware that any romantic relationship (consensual or otherwise) or any other inappropriate involvement with another employee or student makes them liable for formal action against them if a complaint is initiated by the aggrieved party in the relationship. Even when both parties have consented to the development of such a relationship, it is the supervisor in a supervisor-employee relationship, the faculty member in a faculty-student relationship, or the employee in an employee-student relationship who shall be held accountable for unprofessional behavior.
Harassment of employees or students by non-employees on the institution’s property and while engaged in any institutionally-sponsored activities is also a violation of this policy. Any employee or student who becomes aware of any such harassment shall report the incident(s) to the Dean of Student Services, Campus Police, or Title IX Coordinator. Intimidation and retaliation against complainants, respondents, and witnesses are forbidden under this policy, Title IX, and by the College’s Code of Conduct.