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Extension 8353, or in writing at Butler County Community College, 107 College Drive,
Butler, PA 16002.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY
A. Policy - The Board of Trustees of Butler County Community College shall not tolerate
any behavior by an employee or student that constitutes sexual harassment. Sexual
harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other
verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:
1. Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a condition of an
individual's employment or academic success.
2. Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for
employment or academic decisions affecting such individual.
3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an
individual's work or academic performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile,
or offensive work or academic environment.
The College is committed to maintaining an academic environment in which its
members can freely work together, both in and out of the classroom. The College
cannot thrive unless each member is accepted as an autonomous individual and is
treated civilly, without regard to his or her sex or, for that matter, any other factor
irrelevant to participation in the life of the College.
Every member of the College community must recognize that sexual harassment
compromises the integrity of the College, its tradition of intellectual freedom, and the
trust placed in its members. It is the intention of the College to take all necessary
actions to prevent, correct, and, where indicated, discipline sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment by any member of the College community is prohibited. This
prohibition includes peer harassment among students, staff, or faculty. Sexual
harassment by a faculty member, of a student over whom he or she has authority, or by
supervisors of a staff member is particularly serious. Such conduct may easily create
an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.
Sexual harassment can take many forms. Some of these are overt and unambiguous,
while others may be more subtle and indirect. Direct forms of sexual harassment
include sexual assault and sexual advances accompanied by an offer of reward or
threats of reprisal. Such behavior constitutes serious misconduct, and a single incident
establishes grounds for complaint. Other forms of sexual harassment include sexual
advances, physical or verbal, that are repeated and unwanted.
Romantic relationships that might be appropriate in other contexts may, within a
College, create the appearance of an abuse of power or of undue advantage. Even
when both parties have consented at the outset to a romantic involvement, such
consent does not preclude a subsequent charge of sexual harassment against the
instructor or supervisor. Because of its relevance to sexual harassment, the College
views consensual relations in cases where one person has educational or supervisory
authority over another, as unwise and inappropriate. In matters such as this,
appropriate action will be taken.
B. Consensual Relations between Faculty or Staff and Students
Because those who teach or interact with students are entrusted with guiding students,
judging their work, giving grades for papers and courses, writing letters of
recommendation, advising and supervising co-curricular experiences, faculty and staff
are in a delicate relationship of trust, influence, and power. This relationship must not
be jeopardized by possible doubt of intent, fairness of professional judgment, or the
appearance to other students of favoritism.
