This policy applies to all aspects of the employment relationship including advertising, recruitment, hiring, transfers, training, promotion, compensation, separation, wage and salary administration, as well as to all construction, vending, and procurement activities. It requires that all employment decisions and human resources policies be administered solely on the basis of an individual's ability and qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual preference, age, religion, creed, national origin, marital status, Vietnam Era Veteran status, disabled Veteran status, or disability. The Albany College of Pharmacy is committed to a working and learning environment that is free of discriminatory intimidation. The exploitation of institutional, academic or supervisory authority to sexually harass students, faculty or staff members is a form of illegal sex-based discrimination in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 and of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Such conduct will not be tolerated on this campus.
Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination.
Often, sexual harassment involves relationships of unequal power, and contains elements of coercion as when compliance with requests for sexual favors becomes the criterion for granting work, study or grading benefits. However, sexual harassment may also involve relationships among equals, i.e., students, as when repeated sexual advances or demeaning verbal behavior have a harmful effect on a person's ability to study or work in the academic setting. Implicit in the legal definition of sexual harassment is the assumption that sexual harassment prevents the realization of the victim's full potential as a student or employee. Sexual harassment, then, is considered unethical and unprofessional as well as illegal behavior. However, because of the emotionally debilitating effect of sexual harassment, some individuals may be hesitant to use the administrative process and continue to suffer from a real or perceived discrimination.