No person shall be discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment, personnel practices, or access to and participation in, programs, services, and activities with regard to race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. In addition, discrimination in employment based on membership or activity in a local commission as defined by law is prohibited.
Harassment on the basis of race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression is prohibited. Harassment may occur in a variety of relationships, including faculty and student, supervisor and employee, student and student, staff and student, employee and employee, and other relationships with persons having business at, or visiting the educational or working environment.
This policy is directed at verbal or physical conduct that constitutes discrimination/ harassment under state and federal law and is not directed at the content of speech. In cases in which verbal statements and other forms of expression are involved, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will give due consideration to an individual’s constitutionally protected right to free speech and academic freedom. However, discrimination and harassment are not within the protections of academic freedom or free speech.
The system office, colleges, and universities shall maintain and encourage full freedom, within the law, of expression, inquiry, teaching, and research. Academic freedom comes with a responsibility that all members of our education community benefit from it without intimidation, exploitation, or coercion.
This policy shall apply to all individuals affiliated with Minnesota State Colleges
and Universities, including but not limited to, its students, employees, applicants, volunteers, agents, and Board of Trustees, and is intended to protect the rights and privacy of both the complainant and respondent and other involved individuals, as well as to prevent retaliation or reprisal. Individuals who violate this policy shall be subject to disciplinary or other corrective action.
This policy supersedes all existing system, college, and university equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies.
St. Cloud State University will provide equal education and employment opportunities to all persons following the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (CRA), as amended, which prohibits certain forms of discrimination in providing educational programs under Title IX and employment under Title VII. Specifically the CRA prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, or religion. Federal law also prohibits discrimination based on age, disability, pregnancy, and certain Veteran status. The State of Minnesota further prohibits discrimination based on marital status, sexual orientation, receipt of public assistance or membership on a human rights commission.
In compliance with the law and as an integral part of the mission of this university, St. Cloud State University is committed to providing equal education and employment opportunities to all students and employees regardless of race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, status with regards to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or status as a U.S. veteran.
To carry out this commitment, St. Cloud State University not only prohibits discrimination in policy and process, but takes affirmative steps to prevent sexual and discriminatory harassment in the workplace and classroom. St. Cloud State University students or employees with concerns or uncertainty about possible harassment or discrimination are encouraged to contact Chocoletta A. Simpson who is the university Designated, Equity & Access Officer, ADA Coordinator, and Title IX Compliance Coordinator phone (320) 308-5123 or via email at chocoletta.simpson@stcloudstate.edu or oea@stcloudstate.edu. At www.stcloudstate.edu/oea/policies, are policies and procedures pertaining to discrimination, harassment and sexual assault, as well as information on available resources.