Sexual harassment is illegal.

As Chancellor, I take this opportunity to reaffirm the University's commitment to maintaining an employment and academic environment free from all forms of exploitation, intimidation, or harassment, including sexual harassment. The City University of New York does not tolerate sexual harassment. It is demeaning, offensive, illegal, and prohibited by University policy.

Every student, faculty member, staff member, and administrator is encouraged to become aware of and to support the University's Policy Against Sexual Harassment. To this end, CUNY provides an interactive computer online course and mastery test to inform all members of the University community about sexual harassment - what it is and how to prevent it in academic and workplace settings. A copy of the University's Policy Against Sexual Harassment is available for printing during the program. Revised and adopted by the Board of Trustees in 2004, the policy defines sexual harassment, provides examples of prohibited conduct, discusses penalties for offenders, and establishes procedures for handling complaints.
The University strives to foster a harassment-free environment- one in which all its members can work, study, and learn in an atmosphere of courtesy and mutual respect. As a supervisor or administrator/faculty member/member of the University community, you have a role to play in the attainment of this goal. I thank you for devoting further attention to this serious issue.

Matthew Goldstein
Chancellor

Policy Statement

It is the policy of The City University of New York to promote a cooperative work and academic environment in which there exists mutual respect for all University students, faculty, and staff. Harassment of employees or students based upon sex is inconsistent with this objective and contrary to the University's non-discrimination policy. Sexual harassment is illegal under Federal, State, and City laws, and will not be tolerated within the University.
The University, through its colleges, will disseminate this policy and take other steps to educate the University community about sexual harassment. The University will establish procedures to ensure that investigations of allegations of sexual harassment are conducted in a manner that is prompt, fair, thorough, and as confidential as possible under the circumstances, and that appropriate corrective and/or disciplinary action is taken as warranted by the circumstances when sexual harassment is determined to have occurred. Members of the University community who believe themselves to be aggrieved under this policy are strongly encouraged to report the allegations of sexual harassment as promptly as possible. Delay in making a complaint of sexual harassment may make it more difficult for the college to investigate the allegations.

For procedures that implement this policy please refer to "CUNY Policy on Non-Discrimination <doc>." The latter includes current procedures for addressing complaints of sexual harassment.

Last Updated: 2/10/09