Nursing Student Handbook 2012-2013

NSU Student Handbook 2012–2013 55 • Victim Reports: If a student who is a victim of sexual assault reports the matter to a university administrator or any other university employee, the administrator and/or employee will encourage the victim to seek immediate medical attention and assist the victim in appropriate methods and avenues to receive medical care. In reporting a sexual assault, the victim controls the process. The administrator and/or employee will encourage the victim to authorize notification of the university Public Safety Office (PSO) of the occurrence of the crime, and then to cooperate with PSO and student life and/or residential life and housing in reporting the matter to the rape victim advocate in the state attorney’s office and to local police. The victim will be assured of university support including reasonable confidentiality, full cooperation with any police investigation, and counseling through the Henderson Student Counseling Center and the Rape Crisis Center. If the victim authorizes the notification of PSO, the administrator and/or employee will inform the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs, which will assist as liaison with PSO. Harassment Statement Harassment is defined as any conduct (words or acts), whether intentional or unintentional or a product of the disregard for the safety, rights, or welfare of others, which causes physical, verbal, or emotional harm; or conduct, which intimidates, degrades, demeans, threatens, hazes, or otherwise interferes with another person’s rights to comfort and right to be free of a hostile environment. This includes, but is not limited to, loud or aggressive behavior; behavior that disrupts the orderly functioning of the university; disturbs the peace and/or comfort of person(s) on the campus of the university; creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. It also includes any conduct (words or acts) in which the university can determine a threat exists to the educational process or to the health or safety of a member of the NSU community. Sexual Harassment Policy It is the intent of Nova Southeastern University to protect all employees and students from sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972. Sexual harassment undermines the integrity of the employment and academic environment, debilitates morale, and interferes with the effectiveness of employees and students. In accordance with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s promulgated guidelines, unwelcome sexual advances, unwanted requests for favors of a sexual nature, and any other unwanted verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature are considered sexual harassment if • explicit or implicit submission to sexual overtones is made a term or condition of employment or academic program status • employment or academic program status decisions are made on the basis of whether submission to or rejection of sexual overtones occurred • a sexually intimidating, hostile, or offensive atmosphere unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work or academic program status performance At Nova Southeastern University, sexual harassment of or by employees or students includes: 1. unwelcome or unwanted sexual advances. This includes unwelcome physical contact or sexual advances considered unacceptable by another individual. 2. requests or demands for sexual favors. This includes subtle or blatant pressures or requests for any type of sexual favor, accompanied by an implied or stated promise of preferential treatment or negative consequence concerning one’s employment or academic program status.