Anti-Harassment Policy

The Highlights Foundation is committed to an environment free from harassment and intimidation, and to a culture based on the principles of mutual respect and integrity. We will not tolerate harassment or intimidation of anyone visiting the Highlights Foundation campus or leading or participating in any programs of the Highlights Foundation. All employees, faculty, students, and guests are responsible for creating and maintaining an environment that is free of harassment and intimidation.

Any form of harassment which violates federal, state, or local law, including, but not limited to, harassment related to an individual’s race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, uniformed service member status, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law is a violation of the Highlights Foundation policy and will not be tolerated. The term “harassment” includes slurs and any other offensive or abusive remarks or jokes, and other verbal, nonverbal, graphic, or physical conduct.

Sexual harassment is a form of harassment, which includes, but is not limited to, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, unwelcome or offensive touching, sexual innuendos and other verbal, graphic, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Like any other form of harassment, it is a violation of the Highlights Foundation policy and will not be tolerated. All employees, faculty, students, and guests are expected to refrain from behavior that could be construed as sexual harassment by another individual.

All employees, faculty, students, and guests of the Highlights Foundation should use e-mail, voice mail, the Internet, or any other communication tools in an appropriate and courteous manner, and never for sending, receiving, or viewing any messages or information which contains obscene or discriminatory material. This anti-harassment policy strictly prohibits the sending or receiving of any messages which contain sexual implications, racial slurs, gender specific comments, any other comment that offensively addresses someone’s race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, uniformed service member status, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law, or otherwise violates this policy.

Anyone who feels they have been subjected to, or witnessed, unwelcome, intimidating, or harassing behavior, sexual or otherwise, should report the incident to any employee of the Highlights Foundation, a faculty member, or other trusted person. Highlights Foundation employees have a protocol to report the incident to leadership immediately (see Reporting below). All incidents of unwelcome, intimidating, or harassing behavior, sexual or otherwise, will be investigated. Reports of harassment will be kept as confidential as possible under the circumstances but complete confidentiality, as a practical matter, is not always possible. If the Highlights Foundation determines that prohibited activity has occurred, it will take appropriate remedial action up to and including, as appropriate, removal from property, program, employment or faculty/leadership role.

No person will ever be penalized for reporting a harassment problem; however, malicious, knowingly false, or knowingly fraudulent allegations will be dealt with appropriately. Further, retaliation against any person making a claim of harassment or participating in a harassment investigation will not be tolerated.

Highlights Foundation staff and faculty are required to report any observed, known, or suspected harassment or intimidation to leadership. Disciplinary action will be taken if it is determined that an employee or faculty member had knowledge of, and failed to report, harassment or intimidation.

Reporting of Incidents

All faculty, staff, teaching assistants, and resident artists are aware of the Highlights Foundation reporting protocol. Anyone may report incidents to the manager on duty or: via text message or cell phone, email (support@highlightsfoundation.zendesk.com), or via this online form. Phone numbers for calling or text message will be included in guest packets onsite as well as posted on room signs and in common areas. All incidents will be reported to leadership immediately to begin investigation.