All inquiries will be considered confidential. In recent years, increasing awareness of sexual harassment and its effects upon teaching and learning as well as upon career advancement and employee well-being have prompted the majority of universities in Canada to develop policies governing their institution's response to this phenomenon. The University of Guelph has an obligation to create a work environment for all employees and a study environment for all students that is fair, humane and responsible - an environment which supports, nurtures and rewards career and educational progress on the basis of such relevant factors as work performance and academic achievement. All sectors of the University have a responsibility to cooperate in the creation of a climate in which incidents of sexual harassment do not occur. To this end, the University will undertake, in consultation with its various constituencies, a cooperative educational program designed to sensitize members of the community to the unacceptability of such conduct.
Sexual harassment can happen to anyone, female or male.
Although women are most often sexually harassed by men, the reverse can occur. Although sexual harassment typically involves a person in a position of power or authority as the initiator, it should be recognized that people in subordinate or equal positions may also be initiators. Same-sex harassment also occurs. Students, staff and faculty can be both the victims and the perpetrators of sexual harassment. It can also occur between two students.