Hostile Environment

 

For Title IX purposes a working definition of a hostile environment is:

• A situation of discriminatory or sexual nature that has occurred and created an adverse educational setting
• An intimidating or offensive class or college environment that causes a person to be fearful
• A setting that denies, limits or interferes with a person's ability to participate in or benefit from a college class, program, activity or job

 

Examples of a hostile environment include:

• Bullying, abusive or intimidating comments and actions
• Intimidating or offensive comments that alter the condition's of a person's work, classroom, team, or program environment
• Continual offensive comments or surroundings of a discriminatory or sexual nature