Policy on Equal Opportunity
Policy Number: 107Governance and Legal
The permanent link for this policy is: https://policies.northeastern.edu/policy107/
I. Purpose and Scope
Northeastern University is committed to providing a living, learning and working environment free of discrimination and harassment. This policy applies to all members of the university community, including students, faculty, staff, affiliates, and volunteers when acting on behalf of the university, whether on or off campus, as well as to contractors, parents, and visitors when they are on university property.
II. Definitions
For the purposes of this policy and related procedures:
A. Complainant
The person alleging they were subjected to discrimination or harassment.
B. Complaint
An allegation(s) of discrimination, harassment and/or retaliation, filed in good faith and in accordance with the Policy on Equal Opportunity.
C. Discrimination
Inequitable treatment by the university of a person based on one or more of that person’s protected category, excepting any treatment permitted or required by law.
Discrimination also includes, but is not limited to: unwelcome conduct, including threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion or violence directed against a person based on one or more of that person’s protected category, which conduct is so severe or pervasive that it interferes with an individual’s employment, academic performance or participation in university programs or activities, and creates a working, learning, program or activity environment that a reasonable person would find intimidating, hostile or offensive.
D. Employees
Northeastern University faculty and staff members.
E. Protected Categories
1. Race;
2. Color;
3. Religion;
4. Religious Creed;
5. Genetic Information;
6. Sex (including pregnancy or pregnancy related condition);
7. Gender;
8. Gender Identity;
9. Gender Expression;
10. Sexual Orientation;
11. Age;
12. National Origin;
13. Ancestry;
14. Ethnicity;
15. Disability status; or
16. Veteran and Military status
Additional categories protected under state or provincial law will be treated as protected under this policy for conduct occurring in that jurisdiction.
F. Supervisor
Any person who has authority to undertake or recommend tangible employment decisions affecting an employee or academic decisions affecting a student; or to direct an employee’s work activities or a student’s academic activities. Examples include faculty members to whom work-study students report or employees who, from time to time, monitor other employees’ performance or direct their work.
G. Respondent
The university community member against whom a complaint is filed.
H. Retaliation
Any intentional or attempted adverse or negative act against a person who in good faith makes a report, serves as a witness, or participates in an investigation or adjudication process regarding an alleged violation of a university policy. Retaliation includes threatening, intimidating, harassing, coercing or any other conduct that would discourage a reasonable person from engaging in activity protected under this policy. Retaliation does not include good faith actions lawfully pursued in response to a report of an alleged violation of a university policy.
III. Policy
Northeastern University prohibits discrimination and retaliation on the basis of protected categories. All forms of discrimination or discriminatory harassment within the university community are unacceptable and will be sanctioned appropriately.
Further, university policy and applicable law prohibits retaliation against those who, in good faith, bring or cooperate in the investigation of complaints of discrimination or retaliation.
All members of the Northeastern University community are obligated to be immediately available to investigators and to be truthful and forthcoming. Lack of cooperation may subject the individual to disciplinary action. If parties refuse to cooperate and/or respond in a timely manner, the Office for University Equity and Compliance (OUEC) may take any specific action it deems necessary and appropriate to address the situation based on the information available. Failure to cooperate in the review of a complaint of Discrimination or Retaliation may be grounds for a recommendation of discipline, up to and including suspension or termination.
Reports of Title IX Prohibited Offenses involving students such as sexual assault, sexual exploitation, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, dating violence, stalking, Retaliation and/or sex or gender-based harassment are addressed by the University’s Policy on Rights and Responsibilities Under Title IX and separate procedures referenced in that policy, which outline the investigation and resolution of claims of Prohibited Offenses. Reports of Prohibited Offenses can be reported to OUEC by completing the form available at: Reporting to OUEC or in person at OUEC. OUEC’s policy, as well as other helpful information can be found at https://www.northeastern.edu/titleix/.
The university reserves the right to address any behavior which it considers inappropriate or inconsistent with university expectations, policies, standards or values, even though such behavior may not rise to the level of Discrimination under this policy or under state or federal law. Nothing in this policy is intended to limit the authority of the university to take appropriate action against any individual who violates university rules or policies, whether or not the conduct constitutes a violation of the Policies. The university may assume the role of a Complainant and pursue a report or complaint of Discrimination either informally or formally.
IV. Additional Information
Any university faculty, staff, students, and certain third-parties may file a complaint directly with OUEC against a student, staff or faculty member, or university volunteer, vendor, contractor or visiting professor who is believed to have engaged in behavior constituting Discrimination as outlined in applicable university policies. Complaints may be filed against individuals or units, departments, organizations recognized or affiliated with the university, or other organizational components of the university.
Northeastern University also uses an independent third party company, EthicsPoint, to provide an anonymous compliance “hotline” for all members of the university community. For more information or to make a report, click here https://secure.ethicspoint.com/domain/media/en/gui/32115/index.html.
The University’s Policy on Equal Opportunity is available online at https://policies.northeastern.edu/policy107/ and the university’s nondiscrimination policies and related grievance procedures are available at https://www.northeastern.edu/ouec/eeoprocedure/ and in the Office for University Equity and Compliance which is located in 125 Richards Hall.
In addition, a complaint may be filed with the appropriate government agency. The contact information for each of Northeastern’s locations in the United States is listed in Appendix 1.
V. Contact Information
Inquiries regarding the university’s nondiscrimination policies may be directed to the university’s Assistant Vice President for University Equity and Compliance.
Office for University Equity and Compliance
360 Huntington Avenue, 125 Richards Hall
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: (617) 373-4644
EthicsPoint Compliance Hotline: 1-855-350-9390
Related Procedures
Supersedes
N/A
Keywords
Discrimination; Equal Opportunity; Harassment; Retaliation; Title IX
Version History
Last Revision Date: November 8, 2023
Issued: December 7, 2001
Appendix 1. Government Reporting Options
Federal
The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission John F. Kennedy Federal Building
475 Government Center
Boston, MA 02203
(617) 565-3200 or 1 (800) 669-4000
https://www.eeoc.gov/contact-eeoc
California
California Department of Fair Employment and Housing
2218 Kausen Drive, Suite 100
Elk Grove, CA 95758
(800) 884-1684 (voice) | (800) 700-2320 (TTY)
Florida
Florida Commission on Human Relations
4075 Esplanade Way, Room 110
Tallahassee, FL 32399
(850) 488-7082
fchrinfo@fchr.myflorida.com
Maine
#51 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333 (USPS)
242 State Street Augusta, ME 04330 (FedEX/UPS)
(207) 624-6290 (voice)
Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 994-6000
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-commission-against-discrimination
North Carolina
Office of Administrative Hearings – Employment Discrimination Section, Civil Rights Division
1711 New Hope Church Road
Raleigh, NC 27609
(984) 236-1919
https://www.oah.nc.gov/civil-rights-division
Virginia
202 North Ninth Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 225-3294
Washington
Washington State Human Rights Commission
711 S. Capitol Way, Suite 402
Olympia, WA 98504
1 (800) 233-3247
https://www.hum.wa.gov/about-us/contact-us