Online training course developed to prevent sexual harassment

UNO's Office of Diversity continues to promote a positive and productive campus experience by offering an online professional training program called Preventing Sexual Harassment. The program, which can be accessed at newmedialearning.com/psh/unomaha/index.htm, provides background information about sexual harassment and allows students, faculty and guest users to complete a mastery test with printable certificate of completion.

The primary goals of the course are: to enable users to identify sexual harassment behaviors, explain legal and other consequences of sexual harassment, describe users' roles and responsibilities in creating academic and work environments free of sexual harassment, teach actions to be taken against sexual harassment and declare UNO's policies and procedures on sexual harassment.

More than 60 percent of college students report being sexually harassed on campus, according to the American Association of University Women Web site.

"Harassment of any kind is bothersome, demeaning, irritating and annoying behavior," according to the Preventing Sexual Harassment literature. "Disrespectful or offensive sexual behavior by faculty, staff or students is inappropriate and, in some cases, may be abuse of authority. The involved parties can be men or women; supervisors, subordinates or peers."

Sexual harassment cuts across all racial, gender, ethnic and income lines, said Mary Sweeney, assistant director of human resources at UNO.

While sexual harassment hasn't been a major issue at UNO, the university is "a microcosm of larger society and sexual harassment is an issue that affects every employer," Sweeney said. "We're no different."

The program is available in student, faculty and guest versions. None of the faculty offices are required to use the program. However, Dori Richards, director of the UNO Writing Center, requires all consultants to pass the program before they interact with student clients.

"It's valuable for them in several ways," Richards said. "They work very closely with clients here in the writing center, so they need to be aware of the problem of sexual harassment. They also all teach in the composition classroom. So as faculty, they need to be aware of their obligations and how to draw the line if students step over."

Sexual harassment includes verbal, nonverbal, physical and visual aspects, according the Preventing Sexual Harassment literature. Even such behaviors as off-color jokes, invasion of personal space or unwelcome comments can be harassing in nature.

The intent behind behaviors is not relevant in determining whether it is harassment, according to the course. What matters is the impact of said behavior on a work or school environment.

"This fact is critically important. The statement, 'I didn't mean anything by it,' is not a valid defense of harassing behavior," according to the Preventing Sexual Harassment literature.

Courtney Christopherson, 23, is a graduate student at UNO, and a consultant at the Writing Center. She passed the mastery test in the program with 100 percent.

The message she took away from the course is that being proactive on issues such as sexual harassment is always a good thing.

"I don't think anyone is prepared for that, even if you think about it and talk about it," Christopherson said. "I think it always comes as a shock when you encounter it. I think learning about it lets you stop and think about it before you panic."

UNO views sexual offenses as a very serious matter in violation of both the university's criminal statutes and codes of conduct. All incidents of harassment, whether experienced or merely witnessed as a bystander are to be reported through formal complaint procedures.

If one witnesses or experiences harassment, he/she is to contact Sharon Ulmar, director of the Office of Diversity. The Office of Diversity is located in the Eppley Administration Building 205.

Sweeney said anyone can benefit from taking the Preventing Sexual Harassment online course.

"Education never hurts," she said.