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Sex Discrimination Policy: Definition of Sexual Harassment under the CEC

California Institute of Technology

Speech Code Rating

Yellow
Speech Code Category

Harassment Policies
Last Reviewed by FIRE

April 12, 2026

Download PDF Harassment Policies

Relevant Excerpt

Sexual harassment means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature, made by someone from or in the work or educational setting, under any of the following conditions: ...
3) The conduct has the purpose or effect of having a negative impact upon the individual's work or academic performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or educational environment. ...
"Verbal" sexual harassment includes but is not limited to unwelcome epithets, comments, or slurs of a sexual nature. "Visual" sexual harassment includes but is not limited to derogatory posters, cartoons, drawings, obscene gestures, or computer-generated images of a sexual nature.

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