Definitions

The following are applicable definitions from CSU Executive Orders 1096 & 1097 (revised 10-5-16).

Adverse Action

Adverse Action means an action that has a substantial and material adverse effect on the Complainant's employment or ability to participate in a University program or activity free from Discrimination, Harassment or Retaliation. Minor or trivial actions or conduct not reasonably likely to do more than anger or upset a Complainant does not constitute an Adverse Action.

Advisor

The Complainant and the Respondent may each elect to be accompanied by an Advisor to any meeting or interview regarding the allegations. The Advisor may be anyone, including a union representative from the Complainant’s or Respondent’s collective bargaining unit, an attorney, or, in the case of the Complainant, a Sexual Assault Victim’s Advocate, provided the Advisor is not a person with information relevant to the allegations who may be interviewed by the Investigator during the investigation. The Advisor may not answer questions regarding the subject matter of the investigation for the Complainant or the Respondent.  However, the Advisor may observe and consult with the Complainant or Respondent and take appropriate action to ensure that the investigation does not violate applicable laws, policies, or collective bargaining agreements.

Affirmative Consent

Affirmative Consent means an informed, affirmative, conscious, voluntary, and mutual agreement to engage in sexual activity. It is the responsibility of each person involved in the sexual activity to ensure that Affirmative Consent has been obtained from the other participant(s) to engage in the sexual activity. Lack of protest or resistance does not mean consent nor does silence mean consent.

Affirmative Consent can be withdrawn or revoked. Affirmative Consent cannot be given by a person who is incapacitated.

A person with a medical or mental Disability may also lack the capacity to give consent.

Sexual activity with a minor (under 18 years old) is never consensual because a minor is considered incapable of giving legal consent due to age.

Visit the Affirmative Consent pages on this site for more information.

Dating Violence

Dating Violence is abuse committed by a person who is or has been in a social or dating relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim.  This may include someone the victim just met; i.e., at a party, introduced through a friend, or on a social networking website. For purposes of this definition, “abuse” means intentionally or recklessly causing or attempting to cause bodily injury or placing another person in reasonable apprehension of imminent serious bodily injury to self or another. Abuse does not include non-physical, emotional distress or injury.

Discipline

Discipline means any disciplinary action taken to correct a violation of the prohibitions against Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation, Sexual Misconduct, Dating and Domestic Violence, and Stalking set forth in this Executive Order. Discipline for Employees includes, but is not limited to, suspension, demotion and termination of employment. Discipline for Students includes, but is not limited to, probation, suspension and expulsion. Suspension of one academic year or more, expulsion, withdrawal in lieu of suspension or expulsion, and withdrawal with pending misconduct investigation or disciplinary proceeding shall be entered on the Student’s transcript permanently without exception; this requirement cannot be waived in connection with any settlement agreement.

Discrimination

Discrimination means Adverse Action taken against a Student, an Employee or Third Party by the CSU, a CSU employee or a Student, because of a Protected Status.

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence is abuse committed against someone who is a current or former spouse; current or former cohabitant; someone with whom the Respondent has a child; someone with whom the Respondent has or had a dating or engagement relationship; or a person similarly situated under California domestic or family violence law. Cohabitant means two unrelated persons living together for a substantial period of time, resulting in some permanency of relationship. It does not include roommates who do not have a romantic, intimate, or sexual relationship.  Factors that may determine whether persons are cohabiting include, but are not limited to: (1) sexual relations between the Parties while sharing the same living quarters; (2) sharing of income or expenses; (3) joint use or ownership of property; (4) whether the Parties hold themselves out as spouses; (5) the continuity of the relationship; and, (6) the length of the relationship. For purposes of this definition, “abuse” means intentionally or recklessly causing or attempting to cause bodily injury or placing another person in reasonable apprehension of imminent serious bodily injury to self, or another. Abuse does not include non-physical, emotional distress or injury.

Employee

Employee means a person legally holding a position in the CSU. This term includes full-time, part-time, permanent, tenured, probationary, temporary, intermittent, casual, and per-diem positions. This term does not include auxiliary or foundation Employees or other Third Parties.

Gender

Gender means sex, and includes Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and transgender. It also includes sex stereotyping.

Sex includes, but is not limited to, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or any related medical condition(s).

Gender Identity means a person’s identification as male, female, a gender different from the person’s sex at birth, or transgender.

Gender Expression means a person’s gender-related appearance or behavior whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth.

Sex stereotype means an assumption about a person’s appearance or behavior or about an individual’s ability or inability to perform certain kinds of work based on a myth, social expectation, or generalization about the individual’s sex.

Transgender is a general term that refers to a person whose gender identity differs from the person’s sex at birth. A transgender person may or may not have a gender expression that is different from the social expectations of the sex assigned at birth. A transgender person may or may not identify as transsexual.

Gender is a Protected Status.

Preponderance of the Evidence

Preponderance of the Evidence means the greater weight of the evidence; i.e., that the evidence on one side outweighs, preponderates over, or is more than, the evidence on the other side.  The Preponderance of the Evidence is the applicable standard for demonstrating facts and reaching conclusions in an investigation conducted pursuant to Executive Orders 1096 and 1097.

Remedies

Remedies mean actions taken to correct allegations and/or reported violations of Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation, Sexual Misconduct, Dating or Domestic Violence, or Stalking as set forth in Executive Orders 1096 and 1097. Remedies can include Discipline or other corrective action.

  • Interim Remedies shall be offered prior to the conclusion of an investigation in order to immediately stop any wrong-doing and/or reduce or eliminate any negative impact, when appropriate. Persons reporting that they have been the victim of Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, Dating or Domestic Violence, or Stalking must be provided reasonable and available Interim Remedies, if requested, regardless of whether the person chooses to report the conduct to Campus police or local law enforcement, and regardless of whether an investigation is conducted under Executive Order 1096 and/or 1097. Examples may include offering the option of psychological counseling services, changes to work area, work assignments, or supervisory reporting relationship, changes to academic or living situations, completing a course and/or courses on-line (if otherwise appropriate), academic tutoring, arranging for the re-taking of a class or withdrawal from a class without penalty, or any measure as appropriate to stop further alleged harm until an investigation is concluded or a resolution is reached. The Title IX Coordinator shall assist and provide the Complainant with reasonable Remedies as requested throughout the reporting, investigation, appeal, and disciplinary processes, and thereafter.

Retaliation

Retaliation means Adverse Action taken against a person because the person has or is believed to have:

  1. Exercised rights under Executive Order 1096 or 1097;
  2. Reported or opposed conduct which was reasonably and in good faith believed to be in violation of this Executive Order;
  3. Assisted or participated in a policy-related investigation/proceeding regardless of whether the Complaint was substantiated; or,
  4. Assisted someone in reporting or opposing a violation of Executive Order 1096 and/or 1097, or assisted someone in reporting or opposing Retaliation under Executive Order 1096 and/or 1097.

Retaliation may occur whether or not there is a power or authority differential between the individuals involved.

Sexual Assault Victim’s Advocate

Sexual Assault Victim’s Advocate refers to Employees or third party professionals appointed to support Complainants reporting Sexual Misconduct. They must be certified and have received specialized training to provide advice and assistance, including, but not limited to, the provision of information about available options in the Complaint, law enforcement, legal, and medical processes, and with emotional and decision making support. Sexual Assault Victim Advocates may serve as the Complainant’s Advisor and assist in seeking services. They are committed to maintain the highest possible level of confidentiality permissible under state and federal law in their communications with the persons they assist.  Sexual Assault Victim’s Advocates are appointed based on experience and demonstrated ability to effectively provide services to victims/survivors/Complainants. (See Executive Order 1095 for more detailed information.)

Sexual Harassment - Employees (Executive Order 1096)

Sexual Harassment, a form of Sex Discrimination, is unwelcome verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that includes but is not limited to sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, any other conduct of a sexual nature, offering employment benefits or giving preferential treatment in exchange for sexual favors, or indecent exposure, where:

  1. Submission to, or rejection of, the conduct by the Complainant is explicitly or implicitly used as the basis for any decision affecting a term or condition of the Complainant’s employment, or an employment decision; or

  2. The conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that its effect, whether or not intended, could be considered by a reasonable person in the shoes of the Complainant, and is in fact considered by the Complainant, as creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.

Sexual Harassment could include being forced to engage in unwanted sexual contact in exchange for a raise or promotion; being subjected to video exploitation or a campaign of sexually explicit graffiti; or frequently being exposed to unwanted images of a sexual nature in the work environment.  

Sexual Harassment also includes acts of verbal, non-verbal or physical aggression, intimidation or hostility based on Gender or sex-stereotyping, even if those acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature.

Executive Order 1096 covers unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. While romantic, sexual, intimate, personal or social relationships between members of the University community may begin as consensual, they may evolve into situations that lead to Sexual Harassment or Sexual Misconduct, including Dating or Domestic Violence, or Stalking, subject to this policy.

Claiming that the conduct was not motivated by sexual desire is not a defense to a complaint of harassment based on Gender.

Sexual Harassment - Students (Executive Order 1097)

Sexual Harassment, a form of Sex Discrimination, is unwelcome verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that includes but is not limited to sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and any other conduct of a sexual nature where:

  1. Submission to, or rejection of, the conduct is explicitly or implicitly used as the basis for any decision affecting a Complainant’s academic status or progress, or access to benefits and services, honors, programs, or activities available at or through the University; or

  2. The conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that its effect, whether or not intended, could be considered by a reasonable person in the shoes of the Complainant, and is in fact considered by the Complainant, as limiting his or her ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or opportunities offered by the University; or

  3. The conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that its effect, whether or not intended, could be considered by a reasonable person in the shoes of the Complainant, and is in fact considered by the Complainant, as creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.

Sexual Harassment could include being forced to engage in unwanted sexual contact as a condition of membership in a student organization; being subjected to video exploitation or a campaign of sexually explicit graffiti; or frequently being exposed to unwanted images of a sexual nature in a classroom that are unrelated to the coursework.

Sexual Harassment also includes acts of verbal, non-verbal or physical aggression, intimidation or hostility based on Gender or sex-stereotyping, even if those acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature.

Executive Order 1097 covers unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. While romantic, sexual, intimate, personal or social relationships between members of the University community may begin as consensual, they may evolve into situations that lead to Sexual Harassment or Sexual Misconduct, including Dating or Domestic Violence, or Stalking, subject to this policy.

Claiming that the conduct was not motivated by sexual desire is not a defense to a complaint of harassment based on Gender.

Sexual Misconduct

All sexual activity between members of the CSU community must be based on Affirmative Consent. Engaging in any sexual activity without first obtaining Affirmative Consent to the specific activity is Sexual Misconduct, whether or not the conduct violates any civil or criminal law.

Sexual activity includes, but is not limited to, kissing, touching intimate body parts, fondling, intercourse, penetration of any body part, and oral sex. It also includes any unwelcome physical sexual acts, such as unwelcome sexual touching, Sexual Assault, Sexual Battery, Rape, and Dating Violence. When based on Gender, Domestic Violence or Stalking also constitute Sexual Misconduct. Sexual Misconduct may include using physical force, violence, threat, or intimidation, ignoring the objections of the other person, causing the other person’s intoxication or incapacitation through the use of drugs or alcohol, or taking advantage of the other person’s incapacitation (including voluntary intoxication) to engage in sexual activity. Men as well as women can be victims of these forms of Sexual Misconduct. Sexual activity with a minor is never consensual when the Complainant is under 18 years old, because the minor is considered incapable of giving legal consent due to age.

Sexual Orientation

Sexual Orientation means one’s preference in sexual partners and includes heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality and is a Protected Status.

Sexual Orientation is a Protected Status.

Stalking

Stalking means engaging in a repeated Course of Conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a Reasonable Person to fear for the safety of self or others’ safety or to suffer Substantial Emotional Distress. For purposes of this definition:

  1. Course of Conduct means two or more acts, including but not limited to, acts in which the stalker directly, indirectly, or through Third Parties, by any action, method, device, or means, follows, monitors, observes, surveils, threatens, or communicates to or about a person, or interferes with a person’s property;

  2. Reasonable Person means a reasonable person under similar circumstances and with the same Protected Status(es) as the Complainant;

  3. Substantial Emotional Distress means significant mental suffering or anguish that may, but does not necessarily require medical or other professional treatment or counseling.