UA News

President Robert N. Shelton has asked all employees to complete an online training focused on preventing sexual harassment in the workplace.

With the end of the semester upon us, employees who have not already done so are reminded to complete the online Harassment Prevention Education Program.

University of Arizona President Robert N. Shelton has asked that all faculty, staff, appointed personnel and student employees complete the program – which covers the definitions of harassment, how it might be manifested and how to report such incidents – by the end of the spring semester.

Focused specifically on sexual harassment in the workplace, the online training takes about an hour to complete.

"As members of The University of Arizona community, we share a responsibility to maintain productive working relationships characterized by trust and mutual respect. We demonstrate that commitment by fostering a working and learning environment free from all forms of discrimination, including harassment," Shelton wrote in a March 19 memo to the campus community, announcing the new training.

"Full participation in this prevention education program is a tangible productive measure, for we not only minimize liability risks, we also attain our institutional goal of being a model in terms of its workplace and educational climate," he wrote.

The training includes information about types of harassment, related laws, and campus policies and resources, with a mastery test at the end. Different versions are available depending on one's employment category. A Spanish-language version is also available.

Online feedback from those who have participated in the program has been positive, said Mary Beth Tucker, director of the UA's Office of Institutional Equity.

"People like that they can do it at their own pace at their desks," she said. 

The program was developed by New Media Learning and is available of the Office of Institutional Equity Web site.