Anti-Discrimination Guidance for Unit Activities
Northwestern is strongly committed to promoting a culture of respect and community that is free from discrimination and furthers engagement and the free flow of ideas. As part of that commitment, all faculty, staff, students, units and departments must comply with applicable anti-discrimination laws and University policies.
Northwestern requires members of our community to avoid discriminatory practices in administering activities and programming for or involving students, faculty and staff, including in admissions, financial aid, services and support, all recruitment-related activities, hiring and promotion practices, benefits, training, fundraising, celebrations or appreciation events, housing, affinity groups, professional development opportunities, and others. Individuals who believe they have experienced discrimination are encouraged to file a report with the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance.
Report Discrimination or Harassment
Fundamentally, individuals, or groups of individuals, cannot be treated differently because of their actual or perceived protected characteristics.
This means:
- Programs and activities must not be offered differentially on the basis of a protected characteristic.
- Programs and activities must not provide a benefit to, or create a burden for, one group / individual over another on the basis of a protected characteristic.
- Protected characteristics must not be considered when making decisions about people in recruiting-related activities, hiring, promotion, eligibility or membership criteria, or other Northwestern activities.
Additional guidance is offered below, and in subsequent sections. For questions about the application of this guidance to specific circumstances, please contact ad-faqs@northwestern.edu.