Nondiscrimination and Compliance

It is GMC policy that students, staff, administrators, and faculty are entitled to a working environment and educational environment free of discriminatory harassment. Georgia Military College harassment policy is not meant to inhibit or prohibit educational content or discussions inside or outside of the classroom that include germane, but controversial or sensitive subject matter. The sections below describe the specific forms of legally prohibited harassment that are also prohibited under Georgia Military College policy.

Discriminatory and Bias-Related Harassment Harassment constitutes a form of discrimination that is prohibited by law. Georgia Military College harassment policy explicitly prohibits any form of harassment on the basis of actual or perceived membership in a protected class, by any member or group of the community, which creates a hostile environment, both objectively and subjectively.

A hostile environment may be created by oral, written, graphic, or physical contact or conduct that is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive so as to interfere with, limit, or deny the ability of an individual to participate in or benefit from educational programs or activities, employment access, benefits, or opportunities. Merely offensive conduct or harassment of a generic nature not on the basis of a protected status may not result in the imposition of discipline under Georgia Military College policy, but will be addressed through confrontation conducted in a civil manner, remedial actions, education, or effective utilization of conflict resolution mechanisms. Georgia Military College condemns and will not tolerate discriminatory harassment against any employee, student, visitor, or guest on the basis of any status protected by college policy or law.

Sexual Harassment Both the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the State of Georgia regard sexual harassment as a form of sex/gender discrimination and, therefore, as an unlawful discriminatory practice. Georgia Military College has adopted an amended version of the EEOC definition of sexual harassment, in order to address the special environment of an academic community, which consists not only of employer and employees, but of students as well. Sexual harassment is: • unwelcome, sexual or gender-based verbal, written, or physical conduct that is • sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it • has the effect of unreasonably interfering with, denying, or limiting employment opportunities or the ability to participate in or benefit from the college’s educational, social, or residential program, and is • based on power differentials (quid pro quo), the creation of a hostile environment, or retaliation.

Sexual Misconduct Georgia Military College has defined categories of sexual misconduct, as stated below, for which action under this policy may be imposed. Generally speaking, Georgia Military College considers Non-Consensual Sexual Intercourse violations to be the most serious, and therefore typically may impose the most severe sanctions, including suspension or expulsion for students and termination for employees.

However, Georgia Military College reserves the right to impose any level of sanction, up to and including suspension, expulsion, or termination, for any act of sexual misconduct or other gender-based offenses based on the facts and circumstances of the particular complaint. Acts of sexual misconduct may be committed by any person upon any other person, regardless of the sex, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity of those involved. Violations include: 1. Sexual Harassment (as defined in section “b” above) 2. Non-Consensual Sexual Intercourse Defined as: • any sexual penetration or intercourse • however slight • with any object • by a person upon another person • that is without consent or by force 3. Non-Consensual Sexual Contact Defined as: • any intentional sexual touching • however slight • with any object • by a person upon another person • that is without consent or by force 4. Sexual Exploitation Sexual Exploitation refers to a situation in which a person takes non-consensual or abusive sexual advantage of another.