When is discrimination or harassment a violation of college policy?
It is a violation of PCC’s Civil Rights policies (unlawful discrimination or harassment) when someone is treated differently or harassed due to their: race; color; religion; national origin; sex; marital status; disability; veteran status; age; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; genetic information; or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.
- Discrimination is being treated differently because of who you are. Discrimination can also be being treated differently by someone because of how they perceive you. Experiencing discrimination can cause challenges in the classroom, at work, and with family and friends. Surveys and research is also starting to show that experiencing discrimination can contribute to depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
- Harassment is unwelcome and unwanted behavior because of who you are or how someone else perceives you. Harassment can be verbal, nonverbal, visual or physical conduct. Harassment can take many forms, and can be virtually any unwanted conduct. Harassment can be anything from hate speech to microaggressions, notes to whistling, “jokes” to intentionally rude comments.
In addition, PCC offers processes under the Student Code of Conduct, and Standards for Professional Behavior.