Harassment is abusive or hostile conduct that is directed toward or inflicted upon another person because of their race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran’s status and which, because of its severity and/or pervasiveness, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work or academic performance. Harassment is typically based on stereotyped prejudices and includes, but is not limited to, the following examples, where they are generally part of a pattern of conduct meeting the standard set forth above; slurs, jokes, objectionable epithets, or other verbal, graphic, or physical conduct that demeans, insults, or intimidates an individual because of their race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. Conduct must be deemed severe and/or pervasive from both a subjecting and an objective perspective.

Harassment is typically based on stereotyped prejudices and includes, but is not limited to, the following examples, where they are generally part of a pattern of conduct meeting the standard set forth above; slurs, jokes, objectionable epithets, or other verbal, graphic, or physical conduct that demeans, insults, or intimidates an individual because of their race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.

  • Sexual Misconduct includes all conduct that is considered sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, intimate partner violence (dating and domestic violence), and stalking. Sexual misconduct creates a threatening, intimidating, and coercive environment.
  • Sexual harassment including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when (1) submission to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of employment or academic advancement; (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions; or (3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s performance as an employee or student or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or learning environment.
  • Sexual assault is any form of sexual contact without the consent of all parties involved to include:
    • a. Sexual intercourse committed by physical force, coercion, threat or intimidation, actual or implied by a person or persons known or unknown to the victim.
    • b. Attempted intercourse, sexual contact, or physical force of a threatening nature expressed or implied that places a person in fear of immediate death or physical injury known or unknown to the victim.
    • c. All other forms of sexual misconduct, that violates state and/or federal law now or subsequently in effect including, but not limited to, conduct defined as rape, sodomy, sexual abuse or sexual contact and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
  • Sexual exploitation is taking non-consensual or abusive sexual advantage of another for one’s own advantage or benefit or to benefit a person other than the one being exploited.
  • Intimate partner violence (dating and domestic violence) is abusive behavior with the use of threats and intimidation through physical, emotional, verbal, or other abuse in an attempt to exert power and control over a current or former partner.
  • Stalking is an intentional and repeated course of conduct directed at a particular individual because of his/her gender causing a reasonable person to experience fear or emotional distress.
  • If this is an emergency or you or someone you know needs assistance immediately, please contact the UA Police Department at 205-348-5454 or 911.
  • Hazing & Harassment Hotline 205-348-HALT (4258)
  • Director of Equal Opportunity Programs / University Compliance Officer, Gwendolyn Hood 171 Rose Administration Building; Box 870300; 205-348-5855
  • Office of the Dean of Students 205-348-3326
  • Office of Student Conduct 205-348-8234; student.conduct@sa.ua.edu
  • Designated Harassment Resource Persons http://eop.ua.edu/persons.html
  • Title IX Coordinator, Beth Howard, 152A Rose Administration Building; Box 870114; 205-348-5496; gbhoward@ua.edu

Yes. You should report any suspected harassment that you believe in good faith has occurred or will occur.

Yes. It is a violation of the University’s harassment policy and the Student Code of Conduct for any UA employee or student to retaliate against any individual who makes a good faith report of harassment. Any University employee who retaliates against an individual who has made a good faith report of harassment will be subject to disciplinary sanctions, up to and including termination. For more information regarding the University Retaliation policy, see http://eop.ua.edu/harassment.html.

Yes, you can report harassment anonymously. However, anonymous reports are investigated based on the extent of the information provided and may complicate the University’s ability to take appropriate action to end the harassment, prevent its recurrence, and remediate its effects.

On-campus counseling and support are available from the following sources:

The Student Health Center and Pharmacy provides medical services for students including a Walk-In Clinic, Women’s Health Services, Laboratory and X-ray, and the University Medical Center Psychiatry Clinic. Individuals who have experienced sexual assault and intimate partner violence are encouraged to seek treatment at DCH Regional Medical Center.

The Women and Gender Resource Center (WGRC) provides a full range of services to all students, faculty and staff who are victims of dating/domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, stalking or childhood abuse. These services include but are not limited to counseling and advocacy (hospital accompaniment, location of safe housing, academic intervention, emergency intake for crisis intervention, help understanding and exploring legal and judicial options, information referrals, and assistance with crime victims’ compensation applications.)

The Counseling Center provides counseling and psychological services to University students for a small fee.

The Employee Assistance Program is a free and confidential employee assistance and counseling program designed to provide University employees and their family members with resources for resolving work-related and personal problems.

The University of Alabama strongly encourages individuals who are victims of sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking to report those incidents to the University of Alabama Police Department by calling 205-348-5454. UAPD can provide safety planning for victims (including location of safe housing) and filing of criminal reports. Reporting an incident does not require the complainant to take legal action, but might assist UAPD in efforts to stop the criminal. For more safety tips, please see the University of Alabama Police Department Safer Living Guidehttp://police.ua.edu/slg.html.

The Title IX Office can provide assistance to complainants and respondents with regard to academic intervention, housing support, employment support, transportation assistance, safety planning (including no contact orders), and referrals to counseling. The Title IX Office can be reached at 205-348-5496.

The University of Alabama School of Law Domestic Violence Law Clinic provides free and comprehensive legal assistance on civil matters to victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault in Tuscaloosa County, AL. There are no income restrictions on qualifying for services from the clinic. The Domestic Violence Law Clinic provides services including representation of the victim in obtaining a protection from abuse order and legal assistance for matters relating to divorce, alimony, child custody, child support, employment issues, debt issues, housing, property recovery, and public benefits. The Clinic may be reached at 205-348-7921.

The Safe Zone Program provides a visible network of volunteers for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (LGBTQA+) and other individuals seeking information and assistance regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, harassment, and/or discrimination. 
http://safezone.ua.edu/; 205-348-7297; safezone@ua.edu

Report harassment, racial (or other) discrimination, dating or domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault or violence or incident of retaliation