Protected Bases
Protection against Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation
Georgetown University is committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities and embraces the diversity of its faculty, staff, and students. Georgetown prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of any protected characteristic, as outlined below.
Non-Discrimination in Education
Georgetown University provides educational opportunities without regard to, and does not discriminate on the basis of, age, color, disability, family responsibilities, familial status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, personal appearance, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, source of income, veteran’s status or any other factor prohibited by law in its educational programs and activities.
Non-Discrimination in Employment
Georgetown University provides equal opportunity in employment for all persons, and prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment in all aspects of employment because of age, color, disability, family responsibilities, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, matriculation, national origin, personal appearance, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran’s status or any other factor prohibited by law.
Prohibition against Retaliation
Georgetown University prohibits retaliation, harassment, or other adverse action against an individual for making a complaint in good faith, assisting in an investigation, opposing harassment or otherwise exercising rights protected by law. It also prohibits taking any adverse academic or employment related action against an individual based on an unsubstantiated allegation or rumor of harassment. Retaliation should be reported promptly to the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Affirmative Action and may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.
Interpretive Guidance (including regarding Antisemitism, Caste-Based Discrimination, and Islamophobia)
Georgetown University interprets its non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies to prohibit discrimination, including harassment, based on actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, or citizenship or residency in a country with a dominant religion or distinct religious identity. This protection against discrimination includes antisemitism, caste-based discrimination, and Islamophobia.
Covered discrimination based on race, color, national origin, and/or religion may include, for example, discrimination involving: racial, ethnic, or ancestral slurs or stereotypes; an accent or name commonly associated with particular shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics; and personal appearance, including skin color, physical features, or style of dress that reflects both ethnic and religious traditions.
Individuals who wish to file a formal complaint under the University’s non-discrimination and/or anti-harassment policies may do so by accessing IDEAA’s online complaint portal or emailing ideaa@georgetown.edu. Individuals also may file a bias report through the University’s Bias Reporting System.