New York State issued new guidelines for sexual harassment policies and procedures for all employers in the state. The new guidelines, issued last week, go into effect today. As such, Syracuse University has made the necessary modifications to its Sexual Harassment, Abuse and Prevention policy and will also be implementing new mandatory sexual harassment training for all employees on a yearly basis. The changes both comply with new regulations and ensure that Syracuse University is following best practices in this vital area.
The amendments to the University’s policy include a more comprehensive description of external resources where victims of sexual harassment or discrimination can turn for assistance beyond the University, a new sexual harassment complaint form, and greater clarity on the definition of retaliation, which is already unlawful under the policy. For example, the revised policy clearly states that retaliation against a complainant or a witness involved in a complaint is prohibited. Also stated in this revised policy is that an individual who retaliates against someone may be subject to disciplinary action.
Under new training guidelines, the University must ensure that sexual harassment training include an interactive component. That means providing the opportunity for questions and answers or feedback during live training, and adding an interactive component to web-based training. Syracuse University’s Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services facilitates an interactive web-based training that will be made available to all faculty and staff beginning Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. Live training sessions will also continue to be held across campus.
By Oct. 9, 2019, employees, including all faculty and staff, must complete sexual harassment training annually. That training will include interactive opportunities, examples of unlawful conduct, resources where employees can take their complaints, remedies available to victims and the responsibilities of supervisors. This training complements resources, programs and initiatives currently offered to Syracuse University community members.
For more information about the new guidelines and training opportunities, contact 315.443.4018 or equalopp@syr.edu.
Students from around the world seeking an American university education may often face two main challenges: needing to have a conversational and working knowledge of English and practical skills that lead to academic success. As the University expands its global…
A new exhibition that intimately examines the experiences of currently and formerly incarcerated women in Louisiana by sharing stories of loss, hope, despair, survival, triumph, and persistence debited at Syracuse University Art Museum beginning on Jan. 18. Per(Sister): Incarcerated Women…
Dear Colleagues: Over these last two years, there has been a significant shift in the workplace. Many organizations, including Syracuse University, have responded to the pandemic in creative and innovative ways to meet the evolving needs of the workforce while…
Dear Colleagues, Next Monday, Jan. 24, we begin the spring semester. This will be the fifth semester that we will be doing our work under the frustration and exhaustion that comes from enduring this seemingly never-ending pandemic. While I think…
Dear Colleagues, I very much hope that you had an enjoyable winter break, with some time spent with loved ones and friends. The end of the fall semester wound up being a race against the omicron variant, and I know…
If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.
