Definitions

When someone is harmed, it can be hard to put a name on what they experienced and the person harmed is the only one who has the right to define what happened. We hope, however, by providing some definitions, students will understand what we mean when we use these terms and know what to expect when working with support services on campus. Please see our Prohibited Discrimination and Retaliation Policy for the definitions below, reporting options, and related investigation processes. Knowing these definitions may help you understand how an experience you have had may correspond to a violation of university policy and how to get support.

The university prohibits discriminatory misconduct, which is defined to include the following: 

  • Discrimination
  • Harassment
  • Sexual harassment
  • Sexual misconduct
  • Absence of affirmative consent
  • Stalking
  • Dating violence
  • Domestic violence
  • Sexual exploitation
  • Retaliation