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PROHIBITED HARASSMENT: DEFINITIONS AND RULES GOVERNING

THE CONDUCT OF UW-MADISON FACULTY AND ACADEMIC STAFF


Part III: Repeated Demeaning Verbal and Other Expressive Behavior in Noninstructional Settings that is Harmful to Another's Work or Study Performance or to the Work, Study, or Service Environment.


III. A member of the University faculty or academic staff is subject to discipline if, in a noninstructional but work or learning-related setting, he or she:


A. Repeatedly addresses or directs to University employee(s), student(s) or recipient(s) of university services epithets, comments or gestures that explicitly demean their gender, race, cultural background, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or handicap if

1. the gestures, comments or epithets are commonly considered by members of the group demeaned to be disparaging to that group, and

2. repetition of such conduct either

a. seriously interferes with the work or study performance of the person(s) to whom the conduct is addressed or directed, or

b. makes the work, study, or service environment hostile or intimidating, or demeaning to members of average sensibilities of the group demeaned.


B. Displays visual materials, alters visual materials displayed by others or makes statements if

1. the intent of the actor is to interfere with the work or study performance of a University employee or student or to make the work, study, or service environment hostile, intimidating, or demeaning to persons of a particular gender, race, cultural background, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or handicap, and

2. such displays, alterations, or statements are commonly considered by members of the group in question of average sensibilities to be demeaning to members of that group, and

3. the person making the display, alteration or statement had previously been asked not to engage in such conduct or conduct of substantially the same kind, and

4. the display, alteration, or statement either

a. seriously interferes with the work or study performance of a University employee or student, or

b. makes the work, study, or service environment hostile or intimidating, or demeaning to members of the group in question of average sensibilities.


Part IV: Demeaning Verbal and Other Expressive Behavior in Instructional Settings.


IV. Discipline of faculty or academic staff members because of expressive behavior in an instructional setting shall be governed by the following definitions and rules:


A. Definitions. For purposes of Part IV:

1. An "instructional setting" is a situation in which a member of the faculty or academic staff is communicating with a student(s) concerning matters the faculty or academic staff member is responsible for teaching to the student(s). These situations include, but are not limited to, such communication in a classroom, in a laboratory, during a field trip, and in a faculty or academic staff member's office; advising and counseling situations are not included.

2. "Expressive behavior" is conduct in an instructional setting through which a faculty or academic staff member seeks to communicate with students. It includes, but is not limited to, the use of visual materials, oral or written statements, and assignment of visual, recorded, or written materials.


B. Protected Expressive Behavior.

1. Expressive behavior related to subject matter.

a. A faculty or academic staff member's selection of instructional materials shall not be a basis for discipline unless an appropriate hearing or review finds that the faculty or academic staff member's claim that the materials are germane to the subject of the course is clearly unreasonable.

b. If a faculty or academic staff member claims that expressive behavior constituted an opinion or statement germane to the subject matter of the course in which the behavior occurred, the behavior shall not be a basis for disciplinary action unless an appropriate hearing or review finds that the faculty or academic staff member's claim is clearly unreasonable. Expressive behavior that falls within the prohibition of subsection C.2 below shall not be considered an opinion or statement germane to the subject matter of the course.

2. Expressive behavior related to teaching techniques. A faculty or academic staff member's selection of teaching techniques shall not be a basis for discipline unless an appropriate hearing or review finds clearly unreasonable the faculty or academic staff member's claim that the objective cannot be accomplished as effectively by techniques less likely to cause harm of the kind described in C.1.(c.) below. If a technique falls within the prohibition of C.2 below, the faculty or academic staff member's claim shall be found to be clearly unreasonable.


C. Unprotected Expressive Behavior Subject to Discipline.


1. A faculty or academic staff member's expressive behavior in an instructional setting may be the basis for discipline if any claims that the behavior is protected under section IV-B have been rejected, and

a. the behavior is commonly considered by persons of a particular gender, race, cultural background, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or handicap to be demeaning to members of that group, and

b. the person engaging in such conduct has previously been asked not to engage in such conduct or conduct of substantially the same kind, and

c. the conduct either


(i) seriously interferes with the academic work of a student(s) in the course, or

(ii) makes the instructional setting hostile or intimidating, or demeaning to members of the group of average sensibilities.

2. In addition, a faculty or academic staff member is subject to discipline if, in addressing a student(s) in an instructional setting, he or she repeatedly uses epithets, comments or gestures that explicitly demean gender, race, cultural background, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or handicap condition, and if

a. the epithets, comments or gestures are commonly considered by members of the group demeaned to be disparaging to members of that group and

b. repetition of such conduct either

(i) seriously interferes with the learning or other academic performance of the student(s) to whom the faculty or academic staff member referred, or

(ii) makes the instructional setting hostile or intimidating, or demeaning to members of average sensibilities of the group disparaged.

[UW-Madison Faculty Document 458A, 2 November 1981 and

UW-Madison Faculty Document 758, 2 May 1988 and 786, 6 February 1989]