IU has specific discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct policies which include UA-01 Non-Discrimination/Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action and UA-03 Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct. IU prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status in both its educational and employment programs. Forms of sexual misconduct include sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.
The IU Indianapolis Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) takes discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and retaliation incidents very seriously and handles concerns related to those areas for IU Indianapolis, IU School of Medicine, IU Columbus, and IU Fort Wayne. Any member of the university community who feels they have been subjected to discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, or retaliation should report such behavior here.
If you want to speak with someone about a discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, or retaliation incident(s), please contact OIE at oieindy@iu.edu or 317-274-2306. We can consult with you about options, complaint procedures, or help you navigate a situation that may be bothering you. Complaint procedures are outlined here.
Academic appointee and staff employee relationships are governed by UA-22 Employee Relationships Involving Students.
What is discrimination?
Discrimination is treating or proposing to treat someone unfavorably because of personal characteristics protected either by law or Indiana University policy. Discrimination at IU is prohibited both in both the academic and employment setting.
IU students are protected from discrimination in all aspects of their education, including:
• Recruitment and admissions to programs
• Reception of financial aid, housing assignments, and counseling services
• Course enrollment, evaluation, and classroom activities
• Participation in all university-sponsored events (recreation, athletics, social)
• Disciplinary processes and program dismissals
IU employees are protected from discrimination at all stages of employment, including:
• All aspects of the recruitment process and terms of employment
• Compensation, benefits, and employee services
• Opportunities for training, promotion and/or tenure decisions, transfer, or other work-related benefits
• Disciplinary / corrective action procedures, demotion, and termination
What is harassment?
Harassment is a form of discrimination that includes unwelcome conduct based on protected characteristics. Such conduct could include offensive jokes, slurs, epithets or name calling, physical assaults or threats, intimidation, ridicule or mockery, insults or put-downs, offensive objects or pictures, and other conduct that interferes with a person’s ability to work or engage in educational programs or activities. Indiana University prohibits all members of our community from engaging in harassment.
What is sexual misconduct?
Sexual misconduct includes sexual harassment as well as sexual assault, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. All forms of sexual misconduct are fully defined in policy and expressly prohibited by IU. Sexual harassment is conduct on the basis of sex or that is sexual in nature. Sexual harassment can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, written, electronic (email, text, social media), or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
For more information regarding IU's work to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct as well as its Student Welfare Initiative, please visit Stop Sexual Violence.
What is retaliation?
Indiana University prohibits retaliation against anyone who has reported an incident of discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct, provided information, or participated in an investigation. Retaliation can occur verbally, in writing, and through a third party. Acts of retaliation include intimidation, threats, and/or harassment, whether physical or communicated verbally or via written communication (email, texts, social media), as well as adverse changes in work or academic environments (demotion, termination, being denied a raise, or being denied an opportunity to participate in an educational program or workplace mentoring program), or other adverse actions or threats.
