LUTHER COLLEGE
Discriminatory and Harassing Conduct Policies and Procedures
I. Policy Statement on Discriminatory and Harassing Conduct
Luther College is committed to creating and maintaining an atmosphere where all members of the community—students, faculty,
staff, and visitors—are treated with respect and dignity.
It is the policy of Luther College to provide equal educational opportunities and equal access to facilities for all qualified persons.
The college does not discriminate in employment, educational programs, and activities on the basis of age, color, creed,
disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other
basis protected by federal or state law. This commitment includes the provision of a campus environment that is free from
discrimination and harassment. The college will not tolerate any form of illegal discrimination or harassment and will not
condone any actions or words that constitute such.
This policy describes prohibited discriminatory and harassing conduct, identifies resources and support provided to individuals
who may have experienced discriminatory or harassing conduct, and establishes procedures for reporting and adjudicating
incidents. This policy is an elaboration of the Luther Code of Conduct. Discriminatory and harassing conduct is a violation of the
Luther Code of Conduct and is subject to the same jurisdiction, regulations, conduct procedures, and sanctions as defined in the
Code of Conduct and/or highlighted below.
All members of the college community are accountable for compliance with this policy. The college is committed to eliminating
illegal discrimination and harassment, wherever they occur in the college community, by taking corrective action as a result of
violations of this policy. Violations may lead to disciplinary action up to and including separation from the college.
II. Definitions
Discrimination. Discrimination occurs when an individual is treated adversely because of membership in one of the legally
protected groups under federal or state law. Discriminatory practices based on bias against a person’s age, color, creed, disability
(actual or perceived), gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status
are prohibited.
Harassment. Harassment occurs when unwelcome conduct based on an individual’s membership in a protected group
unreasonably interferes with the individual’s work or educational environment. It includes verbal, visual, or physical conduct
where such conduct may have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or educational
performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or educational environment.
Prohibited conduct may include, among other things, telling racist or sexist jokes or making offensive or derogatory remarks
about another person’s race, ancestry, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or membership in another protected
group. Prohibited conduct may occur through:

Direct oral expression and/or physical gestures or actions;

Notes, letters, and other forms of written communication distributed via U.S. mail, campus mail, or otherwise made
visible to the public;

Phone calls, phone messages, or other forms of electronic verbal communication;

E-mail, text messages, instant messaging, social networks, or other means of electronic communication.
Sexual Harassment. Sexual harassment occurs when an individual is subjected to unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome
requests for sexual favors, or other unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

Submission to such conduct is made explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or
academic standing;

Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions or academic
decisions affecting the individual; or

Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance
or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working, academic, or social environment.
Sexually harassing conduct may include, among other things, use of suggestive sexual comments, jokes, or innuendo; persistent,
unwanted flirtation or invitations for dates or other social activities; unwelcome sexual advances or passes; sexual remarks or
questions about a person’s body, clothing, or sexual activities; patting, pinching, or other offensive touching; or displays of
sexually suggestive pictures or objects.
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Consensual Relationships. Consensual romantic and/or sexual relationships where a power differential exists, whether real or
perceived, may constitute sexual harassment. The effect of such relationships may render an individual’s work, academic, or
social environment intimidating, offensive, or hostile. All faculty, staff, student employees, and others whose positions may
create a real or perceived power differential in romantic and/or sexual relationships are strongly discouraged from entering into
such relationships. These relationships are discouraged because they may lead to the creation of a hostile educational, social,
and/or work environment for other members of the college community.
Retaliation. Luther College students, faculty, and staff are free, without fear of reprisal, to use these procedures to determine if
there has been a violation of the college’s commitment to an atmosphere free of discrimination and harassment.

Any act of retaliation will result in appropriate disciplinary action. Similarly, persons who use this process to bring
frivolous or otherwise bad faith allegations against a member of the Luther College community shall be subject to
disciplinary action.

The college reserves the right to institute temporary measures to respond to reported incidents of harassment or
discrimination pending the completion of any applicable complaint resolution process.
III. Resources and Support Services
Luther College will make every effort to safeguard the identities of students and Luther College community members who seek
help and/or report complaints of discrimination or harassment. While steps are taken to protect the privacy of individuals
involved, the college may need to investigate an incident and take action once an allegation is known, whether or not the
Complainant chooses to pursue a complaint. Files related to complaints of discriminatory or harassing conduct will be kept
confidential to the extent possible, consistent with the need for a thorough investigation. Should the Complainant publicly discuss
the complaint, the college shall be relieved of its confidentiality obligations related to the disclosed information under this policy.
On Campus Confidential Resources. Students and other Luther College community members who feel they may have been the
victim of any form of discriminatory or harassing conduct may wish to seek confidential counseling or support. The following
individuals are designated as confidential resources; they will seek to maintain information received as private and will not share
confidential information with college officials or others, unless required to do so by law:

Campus Pastors/Catholic Chaplain, College Ministries, x1040

College Licensed Mental Health Counselors, Counseling Service, x1375

College Nurses/Physicians, Health Services, x1045
On Campus “Mandatory Reporting” Resources. Students should be aware that almost all faculty/staff members and most
offices on campus are required to report any allegation of discrimination and/or harassment of which they are made aware. The
confidentiality of all parties will be honored to the extent legally allowed and which provides for an appropriate investigation.
The following mandatory reporting individuals and offices are specially equipped to follow up on allegations of discriminatory or
harassing conduct. These individuals and offices will do so with respect for the privacy of those allegedly involved in the
incident:

Harassing Conduct Officers: Erin Flater, Sampson-Hoffland Laboratories, x1632; Gregory Peterson, Jenson-Noble
Hall of Music, x1205; Leah McCrea, Dahl Centennial Union, x1020; Ann Highum, Dahl Centennial Union, x1020

Diversity Center, Dahl Centennial Union, x1014

Disability Services Officer, Preus Library, x1270

Human Resources Director, Main Building, x1134

Student Life Office, Dahl Centennial Union, x1020

Residence Life Director, Dahl Centennial Union, x1330

Hall Directors/Area Coordinators/ Resident Assistants, residence halls

Safety and Security Office, Dahl Centennial Union, x2111 (24 hours, seven days/week)
Decorah Area Resources. Students and other Luther College community members may also choose to seek out support or
advice off campus. Resources include:

Decorah Police Department, 563-382-3667

Domestic and Sexual Abuse Resource Center 24-Hour Crisis Line, 563-382-2989

Decorah Human Rights Commission, 563-382-3651
IV. Reporting Procedures for Complaints of Discriminatory or Harassing Conduct
1. Individuals who become aware of or think they have been subject to discriminatory or harassing conduct are strongly
encouraged to contact one of the Harassing Conduct Officers. These officers are appointed annually by the Luther College
President.
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2. If the individual decides to file a complaint with one of the Harassing Conduct Officers, a written summary will be completed
by the Complainant or the officer in conjunction with the Complainant. The summary will include the following information:
name, address, and phone number of the Complainant; name of the Respondent; nature of the complaint; date(s) and location(s)
of the alleged incident(s); evidence on which the complaint is based.
3. Discriminatory and/or harassing conduct are violations of the Luther Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct outlines the
procedures for addressing complaints against students including a description of the rights of Complainants and Respondents,
student code authority and policy jurisdiction, prohibited behaviors, conduct procedures, possible sanctions, interim suspension,
and the appeals process.
4. Additional procedures related to managing complaints of discriminatory or harassing conduct follow:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
If the Respondent is a faculty or staff member, the respective faculty or staff handbooks will outline the processes and
procedures. If the Respondent is a student, the Code of Conduct and the processes outlined below will apply.
For most complaints, investigations will be done by a Harassing Conduct Officer and the Student Conduct Coordinator
(if the Respondent is a student) and by a Harassing Conduct Officer and the Human Resources Director (if the
Respondent is a faculty or staff member).
If the Respondent is a student, the Harassing Conduct Officer will prepare a written fact-finding report in consultation
with the Vice President and Dean for Student Life. The investigation will generally include, at a minimum, separate
interviews of the Complainant and the Respondent. The Complainant and the Respondent will be permitted to have an
advisor/support person (not an attorney) present during their respective interviews. The investigator will also gather and
review other evidence as deemed necessary.
The Vice President and Dean for Student Life and/or the Student Conduct Coordinator shall, based on the available
evidence including the fact-finding report and the information gathered by the investigator, make an initial
determination that the charges either have merit or do not have merit. They may, at their discretion, conduct additional
investigations and/or institute a formal hearing before the Campus Hearing Board.
If the charges do have merit, the Harassing Conduct Officer, Vice President and Dean for Student Life and/or the
Student Conduct Coordinator may resolve the charges administratively by mutual consent of the parties involved on a
basis acceptable to the Harassing Conduct Officer, Vice President and Dean for Student Life and/or the Student
Conduct Coordinator. Such resolution shall be final, and there shall be no subsequent proceedings.
If the charges do have merit and cannot be resolved administratively, a formal hearing is held in a manner specified in
the Code of Conduct for all college hearing boards. The complaint will be heard by the Campus Hearing Board. At
least five members of the Campus Hearing Board must be present for each hearing; a simple majority vote is sufficient
for reaching a decision.
The Complainant and the Respondent will be permitted to each have a support person (not an attorney) present during
the hearing; however, this support person will not participate directly in the hearing.
5. A complaint of discriminatory or harassing conduct will be resolved as follows:
a.
b.
c.
d.
The charges may be resolved administratively (including the imposition of sanctions), by mutual consent of the parties
involved, on a basis acceptable to the Harassing Conduct Officer, Vice President and Dean for Student Life and/or the
Student Conduct Coordinator.
The Campus Hearing Board may find that the Code of Conduct/Discriminatory and Harassing Conduct Policy has been
violated; the Student Conduct Coordinator, in consultation with the hearing board, may impose disciplinary sanction(s)
as outlined in the Code of Conduct and/or take other appropriate action.
The Campus Hearing Board may find that the Code of Conduct/Discriminatory and Harassing Conduct Policy was not
violated; the complaint will be dismissed.
The Campus Hearing Board may conclude that information about the case was insufficient or contradictory and a
decision cannot be reached; the complaint will be dismissed.
6. Complainants and Respondents will be notified in writing about the Campus Hearing Board decision.
V. Appeals Process
A decision reached administratively by the Harassing Conduct Officer, Vice President and Dean for Student Life and/or the
Student Conduct Coordinator, a decision reached by the Campus Hearing Board, and/or a sanction imposed by a Student Conduct
Coordinator may be appealed by the Respondent(s) or Complainant(s) to the Campus Appeals Board within five class days of
the decision. Such appeals shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the Student Conduct Coordinator or his/her designee. The
entire appeals process is described in the Code of Conduct.
Approved by Community Assembly, May 4, 2010
Reviewed by Legal Counsel, July 19, 2010
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