Harassment Policy

CEU Plan is committed to providing an environment for learning, networking, and expanding the skills sets and knowledge of every student.  Regardless of the venue, CEU Plan works to provide a safe and comfortable learning environment that is free from harassment of any kind.  Any type of harassment is a violation of this policy and may be illegal.  CEU Plan strives to create and maintain a learning environment in which people are treated with dignity, decency, and respect.  The training environment at CEU Plan is characterized by mutual trust and the absence of intimidation, oppression or exploitation.  CEU Plan does not tolerate any type of threat or act of intimidation or provocation of any kind, in retaliation against our technical assistance program, instructors or any sanctioned event of CEU Plan.  

Harassment can take many forms.  It may be, but is not limited to, the following: words, signs, jokes, pranks, intimidation, physical or social media contacts, or violence.  The Program Administrator is responsible for helping keep our training environment free of harassment: a role that includes working with the technical service department in response to inquiries and the need for technical assistance.  If anyone becomes aware of an incident of harassment, whether by witnessing the incident or being told of it, they must report this to the Technical Support department.  When CEU Plan becomes aware of any harassment, it is obligated by law to take prompt and appropriate action, whatever the event or technical issue.  All complaints or inquiries shall be considered confidential to the maximum extent possible.

Generally, harassment is considered to have occurred when conduct:

  1. Has the intent or effect of creating intimidating, hostile or offensive conduct in the educational environment
  2. Has the intent or effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with a student’s academic performance
  3. Includes severe or pervasive conduct, enough to create a learning environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile or abusive
  4. Or otherwise adversely affects a student’s opportunities

Harassment is offending behavior that creates a hostile environment.  Both objective and subjective perspectives are considered in relation to a particular type of conduct, including the victim’s age, race, gender, disability, and/or any other protected classes as defined by law…

Individuals or groups are in violation of CEU Plan policy, if they engage in the following types of behaviors toward an individual, team member or volunteer; at any function, technical support service, instructor interface or any sanctioned event of CEU Plan.

  1. Making demeaning or derogatory remarks or comments directly or indirectly to an individual or group because of his/her/their disability, race, ethnicity, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, religion, age, veteran status or any other protected status as defined by law
  2. Displaying suggestive visual or written material of a sexual nature
  3. Defacing CEU Plan property or materials by writing demeaning or derogatory words, letters, names or the like directly or indirectly to an individual or group because of his/her/their disability, race, ethnicity, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, religion, age, veteran status or any other protected status as defined by law
  4. Staring or glaring or showing obscene or suggestive gestures at any sponsored CEU Plan event
  5. Repeatedly calling our technical assistance team when the technical issue is not caused by the CEU Plan program, i.e., related to your ISP connection, or your computer operability. It is your responsibility to review the “Getting Started” and/or “How to Take an Online Course” tutorials located on the CEU Plan home page, and to check your system to be sure it meets the system requirements.  CEU Plan will assist you when possible, but cannot provide support beyond the scope of our own program.
  6. Damaging, defacing, or destroying private property of any individual or group because of his/her/their disability, race, ethnicity, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, religion, age, veteran status or any other protected status as defined by law

Discriminatory behavior toward an individual with a disability may be considered harassment when the disability-focused behavior is sufficiently severed, pervasive or persistent as to interfere with or limit the ability of an individual to participate in or benefit from the CEU Plan program or events.

Victims of harassment can suffer significant psychological effects, including anxiety, depress, headaches, sleep disorders, weight loss or gain, nausea, lowered self-esteem and other dysfunction.  They experience job-related costs as well: from job loss, decreased morale, decreased job satisfaction, to irreparable damage to interpersonal relationships at work and home.  In addition, in the higher education setting, student victims of harassment may feel pressured to drop a course, change their major or minor, and experience physical and psychological distress.  Harassment causes a tense and unproductive working and learning environment.  

Consequences of harassment may include referral for training, referral for counseling, written or verbal reprimand, suspension, reassignment or termination of the training event.  Referral to another appropriate authority for review for possible violation of State of Federal statues may also be appropriate; but is not limited to fraudulent activity, anger management, ethics or illegal activities.  

Any student found to have violated any portion of the CEU Plan policy may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, which may include, but is not limited to: referral for anger management, counseling, written or verbal reprimand, suspension, reassignment or termination of the training event. Should termination of the training occur, student will forfeit all course credits and enrollment fees, as reimbursement for the technical service and time in assisting, prior to and including the termination of the training event. Any dispute or challenge by the student of the determination shall have ten days from the date of the notice to appeal.  Bank/Credit Card Chargebacks will not be accepted after the ten-day appeal period.

CEU Plan provides equal opportunities for all students and prohibits any form of discrimination/harassment/disrespect in all facets of the educational environment including, but not limited to, any program or activity sponsored by CEU Plan.  These prohibitions apply to all students, contractors, staff, employees, and to third parties not directly subject to course instructional design or studies.  Third parties may include audiences or competitors in training competitions, service contractors, program visitors, and employees of business or organizations involved in course development and/or production.

Reference:  Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.