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Discrimination and Harassment Policy | JCU Rome
Student Handbook and Policies
Discrimination and Harassment Policy | JCU Rome

Discrimination/Harassment Policy

John Cabot University is committed to being an academic community that values mutual respect, human dignity, and individual differences, and that is supportive of intellectual, personal and professional growth. The University is dedicated to inclusion and diversity and has a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, ethnic or national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or parental status, or disability in any of its policies, programs, and services. All members of the JCU Community have the expressed right to an environment free of discrimination and harassment.

Students should refer to the JCU Student Handbook and the Student Code of Conduct which outline expectations for behavior and JCU Community Standards. 

JCU Community Standards prohibit the following: 

Discrimination 

When an individual or group is treated less favorably than others because of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, marital status, familial status, disability, economic status, or sexual orientation or reassignment or any other factor(s) unrelated to ability or potential. 

Harassment 

Unwanted conduct or speech violating a person’s dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment that interferes with a person’s learning, work or social wellbeing. Harassment includes the following: 

Bullying: repeated or persistent action, criticism or abuse in public or private which (intentionally or unintentionally) humiliates, denigrates, undermines, intimidates or injures the recipient. Bullying includes setting up a person to fail, ridicule, exclusion, victimization, unfair treatment or the abuse or misuse of power. 

Hate Speech: highly derogatory or grossly degrading speech that is intended to dehumanize, humiliate or incite hatred against persons or groups, because of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability. 

Gender-based harassment: includes acts of verbal, non-verbal or physical aggression, sexual bullying, intimidation or hostility on the basis of sex or sex-stereotyping (such as sabotaging female students’ work, or heckling a student because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity, either disclosed or undisclosed). 

Sexual Harassment: unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, including sexual advances, statements, and requests for sexual favors. The unwelcome character of such verbal or physical conduct may be inferred by such characteristics as its aggressive nature, or its persistence even after its target has expressed that it is unwelcome; it will be implied where there is a power asymmetry (such as that between an instructor and a student, or a supervisor and a worker). Sexual harassment includes: 

• Unwanted sexual statements: jokes, comments on physical attributes, spreading rumors, sexual bullying, or talking about or rating others’ sexual activity or performances. 

• Unwanted personal attention: letters, phone calls, texts, visits, pressure for sexual favors or unnecessary personal interaction, with an evident sexual or romantic intent, including stalking. 

• Unwanted physical or sexual advances: unwanted touching, hugging, kissing, fondling, touching oneself sexually for others to see or other sexual activity. This includes domestic violence and sexual assault. Sexual assault is understood as sexual activity in which one party did not or could not consent. 

Neither acts of retaliation (punishing, either overtly or covertly, or taking negative actions to deter a complainant for making discrimination or harassment complaints or participating in discussions of such), nor false reporting will be tolerated by John Cabot University and will be subject to disciplinary action through the established disciplinary procedures of the University. 

When reporting non-compliant behavior that risks student safety and/or wellbeing, students who are bystanders/witnesses will not be subject to sanctions under the JCU Alcohol and Drug Policy of the University’s Code of Conduct if violations occurred at or near the time of the commission of the alleged offense. 

RESOURCES

Emergency Numbers
Those in need of emergency assistance can call the JCU Emergency Number at +39 331 656 1907 or dial 112 for local Italian emergency services (ambulance, police, fire department). 

Filing a Complaint
For issues of discrimination and harassment committed within the JCU community and between JCU community members, students may file a formal discrimination/harassment complaint against another JCU student, staff member, or faculty member by submitting an official complaint form. These formal complaints are evaluated and resolved internally by the Office of Community Standards. JCU cooperates with Italian authorities in the case of external complaints. 

Student Policy Advisor
Students with questions on the policies and procedures set forth in the Student Handbook may contact the Student Policy Advisor (a student advocate appointed by the Student Government) at [email protected].

Mental Health – JCU Counseling, 1522
Students in need of mental health counseling may request an appointment by contacting the JCU Counseling Center at [email protected]. A national hotline for survivors of sexual abuse and violence is available at 1522 (from an Italian phone number) and on the 1522 app (support services available in Italian and English). 

Speak to the Office of Health and Wellbeing and/or JCU On-Call Doctor
Students may contact the Office of Health and Wellbeing at [email protected] for further information and resources. The JCU On-Call Doctor, Dr. Andrea Guerriero, is available at any time at +39 320 406 5709 and at [email protected]. 

JCU Residence Life Staff
Students living in JCU housing may contact their Resident Assistant (RA) or Residence Director for support in the residence or apartment. 

Law Enforcement
The YouPol app (report a crime or gather information) refers users to the local police station. Police stations in the Trastevere neighborhood:

  • Trastevere Police Station: Via di S. Francesco a Ripa, 64; +39 06 583 9141; 8.00 a.m.-8.00 p.m. Monday-Saturday; services available in English
  • Trastevere Carabinieri (Military Police): Via Garibaldi, 43; +39 06 5859 6700; open 24/7

Medical Emergencies

  • Call 112 for an ambulance or visit the nearest/most convenient public hospital.
  • Visit the San Camillo Hospital emergency room and ask for the Sportello Donna Antiviolenza or call +39 06 58703216/+39 327 360 3369 to make an appointment. This hospital is set up to receive female survivors of sexual violence and can connect students with a legal counsel. Refer to the JCU Student Handbookfor more information.
  • Students are strongly encouraged to call the JCU Emergency Phone at +39 331 656 1907 in situations of urgent need. Trained JCU staff is available to provide resources and guidance during a crisis, including accompanying students to the hospital or police station.

SEX/GENDER DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT 

Sex/Gender Discrimination, Harassment, and Assault are Prohibited at JCU. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex or gender identity in its education programs and activities, in respect of U.S. law which prohibits discrimination based on sex in federally funded educational programs. JCU is committed to preventing and responding to sex/gender discrimination and sexual violence in our community. To this end, JCU investigates and resolves complaints of sex and gender discrimination, harassment, and violence within the institution.

To learn more, contact the Senior Director of Community Standards, Roman Clark, at +39 0668191 345 or at [email protected].

Confidentiality and Privacy
When dealing with medical emergencies or situations that jeopardize student safety, students are guaranteed privacy but not confidentiality. This means that JCU will share sensitive information internally with staff designated and trained to intervene and address issues of violence, sexual assault, or other crises. Fully confidential resources are listed above, such as local public health and safety officials external to the University. JCU counselors will share information with staff only if they feel the student’s life is at imminent risk. JCU will inform partner institutions if their student is a victim or perpetrator of a crime or serious breach of the JCU Code of Conduct, as well as any emergency medical situations that require hospitalization.