These policies for students, faculty and staff are to be administered without regard to sex, race, religion, age, color, sexual orientation, disability or national origin Any concerns regarding discrimination should be addressed to the director of human resources in the Business Office, Blasco Hall, (816) 501-3618. Good faith concerns can be raised with- out fear of reprisal. Anti-Harassment/Anti-Discrimination Policy Policy Statement Avila University’s policy is to maintain an environment for all of our employees and students that  is  free  of  unlawful  harassment,  illegal  discrimination  and  unprofessional  conduct.  It  is never justifiable to harass one of our employees or students because of their race, color, gen- der,  religion,  national  origin,  age,  disability  or  sexual  orientation.  Unlawful  harassment  is counterproductive and does not serve the principles on which Avila University operates. We respect the dignity and worth of each employee and student. We believe that each employee and student should be free to develop fully his or her potential, neither hindered by artificial barriers nor aided by factors that are not related to merit. Avila University also prohibits unpro- fessional conduct and comments that may not amount to unlawful harassment. All employees are expected to use good judgment and to avoid even the appearance of impropriety in all of their  dealings  with  other  employees  and  students.  Supervisory  employees  especially  must exhibit the highest degree of personal integrity at all times, refraining from any behavior that might be harmful to their subordinates, students or to the University. Racial, Religious, Sexual Orientation or National Origin Harassment Racial,  religious,  sexual  orientation  or  national  origin  harassment  is  expressly  prohibited. Racial, religious, sexual orientation or national origin harassment includes any oral statement, written statement or physical act in which race, religion, sexual orientation or national origin is used or implied in a manner that make another person uncomfortable in the work or educa- tional environment or that would interfere with another person’s ability to perform his or her job.  Examples  of  racial,  religious,  sexual  orientation  or  national  origin  harassment  include jokes that include reference to race, religion, sexual orientation or national origin; the display or use of objects or pictures that adversely reflect on a person’s race, religion, sexual orienta- tion or national origin; or use of language that is offensive due to a person’s race, religion, sex- ual orientation or national origin. Sexual Harassment Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination which is illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for employees and under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 for  students.  Sexual  harassment  is  also  illegal  under  Missouri  State  Law  and  prohibited  by Avila University. Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, when: •  Submission to the conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment; or •  Submission to or rejection of the conduct is used as the basis for an employment decision affecting the harassed employee; or •  Such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with the employee’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment; or •  Submission to the conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a condition of a student’s AVILA UNIVERSITY 13