FAQs on the College's Policy Prohibiting Sexual Harassment

Q. What is sexual harassment?

A. Sexual harassment is defined by the College’s Policy Prohibiting Sexual Harassment (http://www.bergen.edu/pages/2016.asp) as unwelcome sexual advances or sexually explicit comments, requests for sexual favors and/or other verbal or physical conduct based on the gender of the affected individual when:

                Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment or academic achievement;

Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions affecting that individual; or,

Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or creating an unreasonably intimidating, hostile or offensive working or educational environment.

Q. Why should I report sexual harassment?

A. Sexual harassment is illegal under federal and state law and College policy. The College is committed to providing its students and employees with an academic and work environment free from sexual harassment or discrimination.

Q. How do I report sexual harassment?

A. Report sexual harassment to the College’s Manager of Training and Compliance, Raymond Welch, in Room A-330 or by calling

201 612 5331.  Unwelcome sexual conduct by another student (student-on-student harassment) that disrupts a student’s ability to learn or conduct that creates a hostile learning environment, will be handled through the College’s policies that address student conduct, including the Rules and Regulations found in the College Catalog and Student Handbook.

Q. What if I am not certain that the behavior is actually sexual harassment?

A. You are encouraged to talk to the Manager of Training and Compliance about any unwelcome behavior, even if you are not certain it is covered by the Policy Prohibiting Sexual Harassment, so that you can better understand what is happening and to discuss what steps can be taken to stop the unwelcome behavior.