Sexual Harassment

Refer to Stanford's Administrative Guide Memos 1.7.1, 1.7.2 and 1.7.3, to the extent required and applicable in the country of operation.

Stanford University strives to provide a place of work and study free of sexual harassment, intimidation or exploitation. Where sexual harassment has occurred, the University will act to stop the harassment, prevent its recurrence, and discipline and/or take other appropriate action against those responsible. See also: Sexual Harassment Policy Office website.

This Guide Memo outlines Stanford University's definitions and policies relating to sexual misconduct, sexual assault, stalking and relationship violence for all members of the Stanford community. This Guide Memo also defines student-on-student sexual harassment (see also Guide Memo 1.7.1, Sexual Harassment in the Workplace). Finally, this policy applies to violations of University directives or court orders and acts of intimidation/retaliation relating to the aforementioned conduct or allegations of conduct. This conduct is prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 relating to sexual harassment (including sexual violence, stalking, and domestic and dating violence), the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA) and its implementing regulations, and California Education Code sections 67380, 67383 and 67386; Stanford University refers to this collective group of misconduct as Prohibited Sexual Conduct. In conjunction with this Guide Memo, Stanford has disciplinary and administrative procedures for making formal determinations of whether Prohibited Sexual Conduct has occurred, which are described in Section 11 of this Guide Memo. Prohibited Sexual Conduct is a severe form of sexual harassment.

This policy highlights the risks in sexual or romantic relationships in the Stanford workplace or academic setting between individuals in inherently unequal positions; prohibits certain relationships between teachers and students; and requires recusal (from supervision and evaluation) and notification in other relationships.

This Guide Memo lists some of the services and resources available for faculty, staff and students, and gives references for obtaining additional information.

The policies in this Guide Memo are fundamental to Stanford University's employment policies.