Policy against Harassment, Unlawful Discrimination, and Hostility

Federal and state laws prohibit harassment and discrimination on the basis of factors such as race, color, creed, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, citizenship, status with respect to public assistance, veteran status and marital status (“protected characteristics”). Unlawful harassment and discrimination are inimical to the work and learning environment the Seminary seeks to provide. Luther Seminary is committed to establishing a work and learning environment free of all forms of harassment, regardless of whether the harassment is based on a protected characteristic.

Consequently, Luther Seminary prohibits all forms of harassment of and unlawful discrimination against its faculty, staff, and students. Any form of harassment or unlawful discrimination is unacceptable behavior and is subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including immediate dismissal from the Seminary.

Luther Seminary is a teaching and learning environment in all of its life, including the way people conduct themselves with one another and deal with conflicts. When possible, the Seminary is committed to dealing with disagreements, grievances, and appeals personally and communally (see, for example, Matt 18:15-20). For individuals who are comfortable doing so, telling the person who is engaging in inappropriate behavior to stop is often the most effective way to stop objectionable behavior. However, this should not be construed to imply or require that the complainant must confront any individual prior to seeking help from the Seminary. The rights of all members of the community are also to be respected in cases when a dispute cannot be resolved within the community.

Incident report form here.