Harassment

The College prohibits any harassment related to a person’s race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability or genetic information. [Discrimination Grievance Procedure] This information is found on the Panola College website under Student Services.

Sexual harassment or abuse is verbal or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an employee, student, or group of employees or students because of his or her gender and that:

  1. Has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or academic environment; or
  2. Has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s performance of duties or studies; or
  3. Otherwise adversely affects an individual’s employment or academic opportunities.

Harassing conduct includes (1) epithetic slurs, negative stereotyping, or threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts that relate to gender and (2) written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group because of gender and that is placed on walls, bulletin boards, or elsewhere on College premises, or is circulated in the workplace.

Employees and students shall not engage in conduct constituting sexual harassment. College officials or their agents shall investigate all allegations of sexual harassment and officials shall take prompt and appropriate disciplinary action against employees or students found to engage in conduct constituting sexual harassment.

An employee or student who believes that he or she has been or is being subjected to any form of sexual harassment shall bring the matter to the attention of a College Vice President or an immediate supervisor in accordance with the procedures in the College’s complaints policy. Bad faith allegations or use of the policy for purposes unrelated to its clear intent are expressly prohibited and could result in expulsion.