Last updated: August 12, 2020
Yale University is committed to maintaining and strengthening educational, working, and living environments founded on mutual respect in which students, faculty, and staff are connected by strong bonds of intellectual dependence and trust. Sexual misconduct is antithetical to the standards and ideals of our community. Therefore, Yale University prohibits all forms of sexual misconduct. Yale aims to eradicate sexual misconduct through education, training, clear definitions and policies, and serious consequences for policy violations. The University Title IX Coordinator has responsibility for ensuring compliance with Yale’s policies regarding sexual misconduct. The University-Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct (UWC) and the University and Deputy Title IX coordinators address allegations of sexual misconduct.
These policies apply to all members of the Yale community as well as to conduct by third parties (i.e., individuals who are not students, faculty, or staff, including but not limited to guests and consultants) directed toward University students, faculty, or staff members. Conduct that occurs in the process of application for admission to a program or selection for employment is covered by these policies. These policies also apply to conduct that occurs in Yale-related off-campus activities.
Many forms of sexual misconduct are prohibited by federal law, including Title IX of the education amendments of 1972, and by Connecticut statutes, and could result in criminal prosecution or civil liability.
Sexual Misconduct
Sexual misconduct incorporates a range of behaviors including sexual assault, sexual harassment, intimate partner violence, stalking, voyeurism, and any other conduct of a sexual nature that is nonconsensual or has the purpose or effect of threatening, intimidating, or coercing a person.
Sexual misconduct often includes nonconsensual sexual contact, but this is not a necessary component. For example, threatening speech that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to constitute sexual harassment is sexual misconduct. Making photographs, video, or other visual or auditory recordings of a sexual nature of another person without their consent constitutes sexual misconduct, even if the activity documented was consensual. Similarly, sharing such recordings or other sexually harassing electronic communications without consent is a form of sexual misconduct.
Violations of Yale’s Policy on Teacher-Student Consensual Relations and its Policy on Relationships between Staff Members are also forms of sexual misconduct.
Yale’s policies and definitions apply to all members of the Yale community, regardless of their sex or gender.
NOTE: Federal regulations for the implementation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 provide detailed rules for addressing formal complaints about some types of sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct covered by these regulations is referred to below as “Title IX sexual misconduct”. Yale’s broader definitions of sexual misconduct include Title IX sexual misconduct. For questions about Title IX sexual misconduct or the rules applicable to formal complaints, please contact a Title IX Coordinator or the UWC.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature on or off campus, when: (1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a condition of an individual’s employment or academic standing; or (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for employment decisions or for academic evaluation, grades, or advancement; or (3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or creating an intimidating or hostile academic or work environment. Sexual harassment may be found in a single episode, as well as in persistent behavior.
Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is any kind of nonconsensual sexual contact, including rape, groping, or any other form of nonconsensual sexual touching.
Sexual Consent
Under Yale’s policies, sexual activity requires affirmative consent, which is defined as positive, unambiguous, and voluntary agreement to engage in specific sexual activity throughout a sexual encounter. Consent cannot be inferred merely from the absence of a “no.” A clear “yes,” verbal or otherwise, is necessary. Consent to some sexual acts does not constitute consent to others, nor does past consent to a given act constitute present or future consent. Consent must be ongoing throughout a sexual encounter and can be revoked by any participant at any time.
Consent cannot be obtained by threat, coercion, or force. Agreement under such circumstances does not constitute consent. Consent cannot be obtained from someone who is asleep or otherwise mentally or physically incapacitated due to alcohol, drugs, or some other condition. A person is mentally or physically incapacitated when that person lacks the ability to make or act on considered decisions to engage in sexual activity. Engaging in sexual activity with a person whom one knows—or reasonably should know—to be incapacitated constitutes sexual misconduct.
Guidance Regarding Sexual Consent
Consent can be accurately gauged only through direct communication about the decision to engage in sexual activity. Presumptions based upon contextual factors (such as clothing, alcohol consumption, or dancing) are unwarranted, and should not be considered as evidence for consent.
Although consent does not need to be verbal, verbal communication is the most reliable form of asking for and gauging consent. Talking with sexual partners about desires and limits may seem awkward, but it serves as the basis for positive sexual experiences shaped by mutual willingness and respect.
When alcohol or other drugs are involved, incapacitation is a state beyond drunkenness or intoxication. An inability to remember events is not on its own sufficient to demonstrate incapacitation. A person may be able to make and act on a considered decision to engage in sexual activity but not remember having done so.
Intimate Partner Violence
Intimate partner violence (IPV) occurs when a current or former intimate partner uses or threatens physical or sexual violence. IPV also may take the form of a pattern of behavior that seeks to establish power and control by causing fear of physical or sexual violence. Stalking may also constitute IPV.
Intimate Partner Violence may be accompanied by a range of abusive/controlling behaviors by a current or former intimate partner, such as verbal, emotional, or financial abuse. If you have experienced any of these behaviors, the SHARE Center and Title IX coordinators are available to assist you.
Stalking
Stalking is repeated or obsessive unwanted attention on the basis of sex that is directed toward an individual or group and that is likely to cause alarm, fear, or substantial emotional distress. Stalking may take many forms, including following, lying in wait, monitoring, and pursuing contact. Stalking may occur in person or through a medium of communication, such as letters, email, text messages, or phone calls. In some circumstances, two instances of such behavior may be sufficient to constitute stalking.
Policy on Teacher-Student Consensual Relations
The integrity of the teacher-student relationship is the foundation of the University’s educational mission. This relationship vests considerable trust in the teacher, who, in turn, bears authority and accountability as a mentor, educator, and evaluator. The unequal institutional power inherent in this relationship heightens the vulnerability of the student and the potential for coercion. The pedagogical relationship between teacher and student must be protected from influences or activities that can interfere with learning and personal development.
Whenever a teacher is or in the future might reasonably become responsible for teaching, advising, or directly supervising a student, a sexual or romantic relationship between them is inappropriate and must be avoided. In addition to creating the potential for coercion, any such relationship jeopardizes the integrity of the educational process by creating a conflict of interest and may impair the learning environment for other students. Finally, such situations may expose the University and the teacher to liability for violation of laws against sexual harassment and sex discrimination.
Therefore, teachers must avoid sexual or romantic relationships with students over whom they have or might reasonably expect to have direct pedagogical or supervisory responsibilities, regardless of whether the relationship is consensual. Conversely, teachers must not directly supervise any student with whom they have a sexual or romantic relationship.
Undergraduate students are particularly vulnerable to the unequal institutional power inherent in the teacher-student relationship and the potential for coercion, because of their age and relative lack of maturity. Therefore, no teacher shall have a sexual or romantic relationship with any undergraduate student, regardless of whether the teacher currently exercises or expects to have any pedagogical or supervisory responsibilities over that student.
Teachers or students with questions about this policy are advised to consult with the University Title IX Coordinator, the Title IX Coordinator of their school, the department chair, the appropriate dean, the Provost, or one of their designees. Students or other members of the community may lodge a complaint regarding an alleged violation of this policy with the University Title IX Coordinator, with the Title IX coordinator of their school, or with the University-Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct.
Violations of the above policies by a teacher will normally lead to disciplinary action. For purposes of this policy, “direct supervision” includes the following activities (on or off campus): course teaching, examining, grading, advising for a formal project such as a thesis or research, supervising required research or other academic activities, serving in such a capacity as Director of Undergraduate or Graduate Studies, and recommending in an institutional capacity for admissions, employment, fellowships, or awards.
“Teachers” includes, but is not limited to, all ladder and instructional faculty of the University. “Teachers” also includes graduate and professional students and postdoctoral fellows and associates only when they are serving as part-time acting instructors, teaching fellows or in similar institutional roles, with respect to the students they are currently teaching or supervising. “Students” refers to those enrolled in any and all educational and training programs of the University. Additionally, this policy applies to members of the Yale community who are not teachers as defined above, but have authority over or mentoring relationships with students, including athletic coaches, supervisors of student employees, advisors and directors of student organizations, Residential College Fellows, as well as others who advise, mentor, or evaluate students.
Yale Policy on Relationships between Staff Members
Staff are expected to avoid romantic or sexual relationships with employees and trainees for whom they have or might reasonably expect to have supervisory or reporting responsibilities.
Under no circumstances can a supervisor directly supervise or evaluate any employee or trainee with whom they have or have had a romantic or sexual relationship. If such a relationship exists or develops, the supervisor and employee must promptly disclose it to the Department Head or the Human Resources Generalist. Arrangements, which may include reassignment or relocation, will be made to address any issue of conflict of interest. Any decision affecting any aspect of employment (for example, transfer, promotion, salary, termination) must be made by disinterested and qualified supervisory personnel.
Violations of this policy will normally lead to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Individuals with questions about this policy or staff concerned about a romantic or sexual relationship in violation of this policy are encouraged to speak with their supervisor, Human Resources Generalist, or any Title IX Coordinator. See Staff Workplace Policies.
Title IX Sexual Misconduct[1]
Federal regulations for the implementation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 provide detailed rules for addressing formal complaints about some types of sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct covered by these regulations is referred to as “Title IX sexual misconduct.” Yale’s broader definitions of sexual misconduct include Title IX sexual misconduct. For questions about Title IX sexual misconduct or the rules applicable to formal complaints, please contact a Title IX Coordinator or the UWC.
The following definitions will apply to allegations of misconduct addressed under Section 4 of the Procedures of the University-Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct:
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment occurs when (1) A Yale employee conditions the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the university on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct, or (2) An individual is subjected to unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies the individual equal access to Yale’s education program or activity;
Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is any sexual act directed against another person without the consent of the victim, including rape, sodomy, sexual assault with an object, fondling, incest and statutory rape.
Dating Violence
Dating violence is violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence, on the basis of sex, committed:
- by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim,
- by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common,
- by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner,
- by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of Connecticut, such as others related by blood or marriage or who presently reside together or have resided together, or
- by any other person against an adult or youth[2] victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of Connecticut.
Stalking
Stalking means engaging in a course of conduct on the basis of sex directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others, or suffer substantial emotional distress.