Equality, Affirmative Action, and Harassment

Wright State University's policies on equality, respect, and safety cross over to your rights as a School of Medicine student. Our School appreciates each student’s uniqueness. Through the guidelines listed below, the School works to protect and respect students’ individuality, as well as their safety.

Wright State University publishes its entire policy for equal opportunity and affirmative action in the Wright State University Student Handbook. Included below are sections that pertain to students. For more information, refer to the student handbook or contact the Office of Equity and Inclusion.

Equal Opportunity in Education

Wright State University provides equal educational opportunity. In its educational policies and practices, the university prohibits discrimination against any person or group on the basis of race, sex (including gender identity/expression), color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, genetic (DNA) information, veteran status, or sexual orientation. This prohibition extends to admissions, housing, financial aid, health care insurance, employment and all other university services or facilities. (Wright Way 4001.02.b.1)

Discrimination & Harassment

Discrimination is any distinction drawn regarding any aspect of an individual's Wright State University employment or education solely because of that individual's race, gender, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

Harassment is conduct that substantially interferes with an individual's work or educational performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or educational environment. Such conduct may constitute harassment even if done under the guise of humor.

No member of the academic community may discriminate against or harass any other member of the academic community on the basis of the latter person's race, gender, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation. This policy is consistent with all state and federal regulations.

Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

• Submission to such conduct is made - either explicitly or implicitly - a term or condition of an individual's employment or education status;
• Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for an employment or educational decision affecting such individual; or
• Such conduct substantially interferes with an individual's work or educational performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or educational environment.

Following are examples of sexual harassment, although the list is not all-inclusive:

• Verbal sexual innuendo, suggestive comments, insults, humor, and jokes about sex or gender-specific traits, sexual propositions, or threats;
• Non-verbal suggestive or insulting sounds, leering, whistling, or obscene gestures; and
• Physical touching, pinching, brushing the body, coerced sexual intercourse, or assault.

Complaints

Students who feel that they or others are subjects of discrimination or harassment should contact a faculty member in the Office of Student Affairs and Admissions or the university's Office of Equity and Inclusion at:

Office of Equity and Inclusion
436 Millett Hall 937-775-3207

Most incidences of discrimination or harassment are resolved without initiating a formal complaint. However, procedures for filing a formal affirmative action complaint are detailed in the Wright State University Student Handbook.