SECTION F | STUDENT

 

SECTION FFD.1

STUDENT
STUDENT WELFARE
FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, AND RETALIATION
HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION,AND BULLYING

Procedure

STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION

Navarro College prohibits discrimination, including harassment of any kind, against any student on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Retaliation against anyone involved in the complaint process is a violation of Navarro College policy and is prohibited.

 

DISCRIMINATION

Discrimination against a student is defined as conduct directed at an individual on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law, that adversely affects the student.

 

PROHIBITED HARASSMENT

Navarro College will not condone any form of harassment, intimidation, or bullying in the college setting and takes appropriate corrective, disciplinary and remedial action in response to such determined incidents.

Prohibited harassment of a student is defined as physical, verbal, or nonverbal conduct based on the student’s race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law that is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that the conduct:

  1. Affects a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity, or creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile, or offensive educational environment; or

  2. Has the purpose or effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with the student’s academic performance; or

  3. Otherwise adversely affects the student’s educational opportunities.

 

Harassment consists of unwelcomed conduct, whether verbal, physical or visual, that is based upon a person’s protected status, such as sex, color, race, ancestry, religion, national origin, age, physical or mental condition or disability, veteran status, citizenship status, or other protected group status.

In addition, Navarro College defines “intimidation and bullying in the college setting” as the following: any gesture or written, verbal or physical act, or any use of electronic communication that:

  1. is motivated by an actual or perceived discriminating characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability or any other distinguishing characteristic, and

  2. a reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, that the acts(s) will have the effect of harming a student or damaging the student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to his person or damage to his property; or

  3. has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students in such a way as to cause substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly, civil, and safe operation of the institution and/or the learning environment.

 

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:

  • Submission to the conduct is explicitly or implicitly made a term or a condition of an individual’s employment, academic status, or progress.

  • Submission to, or rejection of, the conduct by the individual is used as the basis of employment or an academic decision affecting the individual.

  • 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.

  • Submission to, or rejection of, the conduct by the individual is used as the basis for any decision affecting the individual regarding benefits and services, honors, programs, or activities available at or through the educational institution.

 

For the purpose of further clarification, harassment/sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to:

  • Making unsolicited written, verbal, visual or physical contact with sexual overtones.

  • Some examples are: epithets, derogatory comments or slurs of a sexual nature impeding or blocking movements or any physical interference with normal work; derogatory posters or cartoons.

  • Continuing to express sexual interest after being informed that the interest is unwelcome. (Reciprocal attraction is not considered sexual harassment.)

  • Within the work environment, engaging in explicit or implicit coercive sexual behavior which controls, influences, or affects the career, salary and/or work environment or any other term or condition of employment.

  • Within the education environment, engaging in explicit or implicit coercive sexual behavior which controls, influences, or affects the educational opportunities, grades and/or learning environment of the student.

  • Making reprisals, threats of reprisal, or implied threats of reprisal following a negative response to a sexual advance. For example, within the work environment, either suggesting or actually withholding support for an appointment, promotion, or change of assignment; suggesting a poor performance report will be prepared or suggesting that a probationary period will be exploited.

  • Within the educational environment, either suggesting or actually withholding grades

  • earned or deserved; suggesting that a scholarship recommendation or college application will be denied.

  • Offering favors or educational or employment benefits, such as grades or promotion, favorable performance valuations, favorable assignments, favorable duties or shifts, recommendation, reclassification, etc., in exchange for sexual favors.

 

STUDENT REPORTING

Any student with a concern of this nature should follow the student grievance procedures as described in the section entitled Student Complaints/Grievances (Student – Student Rights and Responsibilities – Student Complaints/Grievances), consult with the Vice President of Student Success or his/her designee, and report such incidents in a timely manner.

 

RETALIATION

Navarro College prohibits retaliation by a student or Navarro College employee against a student alleged to have experienced discrimination or harassment or another student who, in good faith, makes a report of harassment or discrimination, serves as a witness, or otherwise participates in an investigation.

 

EXAMPLES OF RETALIATION

Examples of retaliation may include threats, rumor spreading, ostracism, assault, destruction of property, unjustified punishments, or unwarranted grade reductions.  Unlawful retaliation does not include petty slights or annoyances.

A student who intentionally makes a false claim, offers false statements, or refuses to cooperate with a Navarro College investigation regarding discrimination or harassment may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

In this policy, the term “prohibited harassment” includes discrimination, harassment, and retaliation as defined by this policy, even if the behavior does not rise to the level of unlawful conduct.

 

HAZING

Navarro College is committed to the safety and welfare of its students and prohibits any action taken or situation created whether on or off college property to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule. As such, hazing, as defined in detail below, is strictly prohibited.

Hazing, according to state law [Chapter 37, subchapter F. (§§ 37.151-157) of the Texas Education Code], is defined as any “intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the premises of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student, for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in an organization”. The term includes:

  1. Any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity;

  2. Any type of physical activity, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics, or other activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;

  3. Any activity involving consumption of food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;

  4. Any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism, that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, shame, or humiliation, that adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the student or discourages the student from entering or remaining registered in an educational institution, or that may reasonably be expected to cause a student to leave the organization or the institution rather than submit to acts described in this subdivision; and

  5. Any activity that induces, causes, or requires the student to perform a duty or task that involves a violation of the Penal Code.

 

A person commits an offense if the person:

  • Engages in hazing

  • Solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another in engaging in hazing

  • Recklessly permits hazing to occur

  • Has firsthand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing incident involving a student in an educational institution or has firsthand knowledge that a specific hazing incident has occurred and knowingly fails to report to an appropriate authority.

 

REPORTING HAZING

Hazing is a criminal violation under Texas law. A person may be found guilty of criminal conduct for hazing, encouraging hazing, permitting hazing, or having knowledge of the planning of hazing incidents and failure to appropriately report.

To report hazing, please contact the Executive Director Student Services, (903) 875-7670, the Director of Student Development, (903) 875-7681, or the Navarro College Department of Public Safety (903) 875-7500.

 

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Please see Sexual Misconduct Procedure (Section FFE).

 

Approved: 2015
Updated: 2018, 2024, 2025
Reviewed: 2020, 2022