Anti-harassment Initiatives

日本語

Harassment is not tolerated at KUAS

KUAS takes a strict stance against harassment, and has a zero-tolerance policy toward harassing behavior that interferes with the learning environment of our students or the work environment of our faculty and staff. KUAS will pursue any issues or questions related to harassment in earnest, and students who have concerns should contact the representatives below.

KUAS Initiatives

Harassment is an act that violates a person's human rights. Under KUAS' stated objective of learning and growing together, all faculty, staff, and students have a responsibility to prevent acts that unjustly violate the dignity of others.

In order to eliminate and prevent harassment and other acts and ensure a positive learning and work environment for students, faculty and staff, KUAS has established Harassment Prevention Regulations, created a Harassment Prevention Committee within the university, and assigned a counselors to act as points of contact, and have a system in place to respond appropriately to any problems that may arise.

Resolution Process

Prevention Committee

The Prevention Committee prepares guidelines, conducts awareness-raising activities, and handles all issues related to harassment, including consultation, receipt of complaints, and relief for victims.

Counselors (and Support Desk Staff)

Students, faculty, and staff can learn how to contact the counselors and support desk through the Counseling Guide, the university website, and the university bulletin board. Consultation can be received by the individual, but also by a proxy or friend, or by such a person accompanied by the person himself/herself.

Coordination Committee

This committee is called to session whenever a counselor files a formal "petition for adjustment" with the university. The Coordination Committee will interview both parties individually, compare their testimony, and strive to resolve the problem through discussion while giving due consideration to privacy.

Investigative Committee

The investigative committee is called to session to resolve cases where the counselor directly requests certain measures such as disciplinary action against the offending party, or where one or both parties request certain measures after the coordination committee has attempted negotiation but has failed.

What constitutes harassment?

Harassment is anything that harms the dignity of another person, disrupts the learning environment of students, or obstructs the duties of the faculty and staff. Harassment can come in the following forms.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is defined by using one's position in education, research, or work to say or do anything of a sexual nature that is against another person's will, and depending on that person's reaction, imparting advantages or disadvantages with regard to their education, research, grading/accreditation, employment, wages, etc.

Sexual harassment also refers to causing someone to feel humiliation, mental anguish, or discomfort through sexually explicit remarks or sexual behavior that is against their will, thereby disrupting their learning, research or work environment.

Academic Harassment

Academic harassment is defined as using one's position in an educational or research-related environment to harm those under one's tutelage through inappropriate words or actions.

Power Harassment

Power harassment refers to taking advantage of one's position in the workplace to cause disadvantage to one's subordinates or colleagues through inappropriate words or actions.

Other forms of harassment

Repeatedly engaging in inappropriate actions or using inappropriate words against the will of another person in the workplace or at school, creating an unpleasant environment that harms the other party's or dignity as an individual and causes great disadvantage to them as a student, teacher, or employee.

Cases that constitute harassment

Sexual harassment

Specific examples*

• Asking a student out for dinner or a date for reasons such as approving their credits for a course
• Forcing someone to sit next to you and drink at a party
• Making sexual demands of someone
• Touching someone intentionally
• Unnecessary one-on-one tutoring
• Stalking
• Harassing phone calls, letters or emails.
• Posting documents or images of a sexual nature.
• Staring unnecessarily
• Sexist comments 
• Obscene jokes
• Starting sexual rumors
• Commenting on someone's looks
• Abusive comments or actions based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. 

Sexual harassment is frequently perpetrated by men against women, but it can also be perpetrated by women against men, or between people of the same sex. In addition, sexual harassment generally occurs in a hierarchical relationship, i.e., between faculty members and students, supervisors and subordinates, or seniors and juniors, but it can also occur between colleagues, classmates, or faculty members.

Academic Harassment

Specific examples

• Refusing to provide guidance to a student without good reason
• Harsh reprimands and dignity-denying verbal abuse that go beyond the scope of common sense
• Unfair or inequitable treatment of students in regard to degree or credit approval
• Disallowing the use of literature or equipment necessary for research

Power Harassment

Specific examples

• Injuring someone's dignity beyond the scope of normal work-related instruction
• Interfere with someone's promotions, advancements, etc.
• Deliberately not communicating information that is necessary for the job
• Demanding tasks of an unreasonable amount or content
• Ignoring, isolating, or discrediting someone

Other types of harassment

Specific examples

• Spreading rumors about private matters, making it difficult for someone to engage in professional or academic activities
• Repeated use of demeaning language, name-calling, and slander, making it difficult for someone to engage in professional or academic activities

If you are experiencing harassment, please consult with us!

Blaming yourself or being patient will not make the situation better. Please consult with a counselor in a way that is convenient for you.

This can be done in person, by letter, phone, or e-mail.

Counselors

Two counselors from each faculty and three counselors from the administrative staff are appointed by the President. Counselor appointments are announced on the university's website and on the campus bulletin board.

List of harassment counselors for 2023

All counselors will maintain confidentiality and work to resolve any issues.

If you wish to contact the counselors by e-mail, please write to the address below. The email will be sent to the two representative counselors. Representative counselors will be announced on the campus billboard.

soudan@kuas.ac.jp

If the counselors are not available, call the General Affairs Division (075-406-9108)

【Contact by Mail】

Please send to the following address
〒615-8577 18, Gotanda-cho, Yamanouchi, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City

To: KUAS General Affairs Division
       Harassment Prevention Committee