Policy on Non-Discrimination for Program Participants

What you need to know about this Policy:

What it’s about:

Visitors to the campus and people who participate in the University’s programs and activities are part of the broader Carolina community. The University is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience – free from discrimination and harassment – while they are with us. This policy demonstrates the University’s commitment to this environment and provides procedures for addressing misconduct that are separate from incidents experienced by students, employees, and applicants.

Visitors and program participants: 

• Visitors: People who are visiting the UNC-Chapel Hill campus or University facilities for a short period of time and a specific purpose, whether as prospective students, tour participants, members of other university sports teams, or for some other reason.
• Program participants:People who are taking part in an event, activity, seminar, or conference sponsored by the University or one of its divisions, departments, programs, clubs, or other groups.

Protected statuses: 

Age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Learn more about protected statuses.

Types of conduct that are prohibited: 

The following are  brief summaries of the types of conduct that are prohibited by this Policy:

• Discrimination: Treating a person differently than others based on that person’s protected status and it is sufficiently serious to unreasonably interfere with or limit the ability to participate in, access, or benefit from the University’s programs and activities. Discrimination can include failing to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
• Harassment: A type of discrimination that happens when verbal, physical, electronic, or other behavior based on a person’s protected status interferes with their participation in the University’s programs and activities and it either creates an environment that a reasonable person in similar circumstances and with similar identities would find hostile, intimidating, or abusive; or where submitting to or rejecting the conduct is used as the basis for decisions that affect the person’s participation in the University’s programs and activities.
• Sexual assault or sexual violence and sexual exploitation, which are forms of sexual or gender-based harassment.
• Retaliation: Retaliation against anyone who reports an incident or cooperates in the investigation of a report is strictly prohibited.

Access the full definitions

Reporting incidents: 

Reports should be submitted within 15 days of the alleged event or incident. Learn more and report an incident