Discrimination
Interim USU Policy 305 prohibits discrimination, including harassment, in USU's programs and activities, including admissions, employment, and housing offerings.
Prohibited discrimination and harassment is treatment based on a person’s protected characteristic(s) that negatively impacts the person’s employment or educational experience. Protected characteristics include race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age (40 and older), disability, genetic information, and status as a protected veteran.
Discrimination-related retaliation is also prohibited.
For questions related to discrimination, refer to interim USU Policy 305. You may also email discrimination@usu.edu or call 435-797-1266.
For USU's non-discrimination policy, see equity.usu.edu/non-discrimination.
Reporting Options & Obligations
USU encourages you to report discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristic(s) to the Office of Equity at equity.usu.edu/report.
Jurisdiction
The Office of Equity’s authority is limited to protected characteristic-based discrimination and/or harassment. Misconduct or mistreatment that is not based on a protected characteristic may be referred to the appropriate administrator for action under other applicable university policies.
Resources
The Office of Equity may be able to provide Supportive Measures (including academic and employment accommodations, no contact agreements, etc.) to individuals who have experienced protected characteristic discrimination at USU or who are involved in the grievance process.
Grievance Process
The Office of Equity grievance process for protected characteristic discrimination and/or harassment formal complaints is an administrative process, which is different than a criminal process. It includes alternative resolutions, formal investigations, and university-driven formal investigations.
Although the Office of Equity may conduct training with someone who is allegedly engaging in discrimination, without a formal complaint resulting in an alternative resolution, formal investigation, or university-driven formal investigation, the office will generally be unable to take action to address discrimination.
More information about the grievance process is available in interim USU Policy 305.