The University of Oregon will soon introduce a new, online workplace harassment prevention training that will be required for faculty, staff and GTFs, said Scott Coltrane, interim senior vice president and provost, in a recent message to the campus community.

Beginning mid-October, “Preventing Workplace Harassment” will be available online to better inform faculty and staff about behaviors that constitute prohibited discrimination and sexual harassment.

The training is approximately 90 minutes long and all employees will be expected to complete it by March 30, 2014. Students and temporary employees are also encouraged to participate.

“This training is important for all of us who work in the UO community,” Coltrane said. “Increased awareness can stop inappropriate behavior, prevent its recurrence and foster a more supportive community.”

Under federal law, educational institutions receiving federal financial assistance are required to train their employees to know how to identify and report sexual harassment and sexual violence. The online training will help to ensure that the UO is appropriately educating faculty and staff about these issues.

The program will clarify employees’ reporting responsibilities relating to harassment and will raise awareness about the obligation to report credible information regarding incidents of prohibited discrimination, including sexual violence, which encompasses sexual assault, partner or dating violence and gender-based stalking.

Members of the university leadership team collaborated extensively with the Faculty Advisory Council and Executive Leadership Team on development of the program. It will be required every three years, Coltrane said.

More information about the program will be available in the coming weeks.

- from the UO Office of Strategic Communications