Sexual Harassment and Academic Freedom

Academic freedom is broadly defined to include all members of Southern Polytechnic community - students, faculty, administrators, and all other employees. It is recognized that academic freedom is not a license for a single group or person to act without regard for another. Rather, true academic freedom requires an environment in which no person is intimidated, exploited, or coerced. Sexual harassment, in any of its many guises, inhibits academic freedom. The University’s policies and procedures for dealing with sexual harassment have been designed to ensure the academic freedom of everyone while protecting the rights of all.