Frequently Asked Questions

All faculty, staff, and supervisors can take steps to educate themselves and prevent discrimination and harassment.

• Review the full policy and available awareness workshops at nyu.edu/eo.
• Attend an Office of Equal Opportunity (“OEO”) workshop on preventing discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
• Model inclusive language and appropriate conduct.

Remember:

• Anyone who witnesses or becomes aware of potential instances of discrimination or harassment should report it to a supervisor, manager, or designee.
• Managers and supervisors have an obligation to promptly report any discrimination or harassment they observe, learn about from others, or reasonably believe has occurred with respect to an employee.
  

Employees wishing to file a complaint of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, sexual harassment, or retaliation may do so in any of the following ways:

1. Contact the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO): The New York University Office of Equal Opportunity is the University's internal unit charged with investigating allegations of discrimination and harassment in the working and learning environment. The office is open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Individuals may contact the office at 212-998-2370 or equal.opportunity@nyu.edu.
2. Contact the Designated Official within the appropriate School or Unit: Each school and administrative unit within the University has designated a specific individual who can receive complaints of discrimination and harassment. Please see NYU's Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Contact List at nyu.edu/eo.
3. Submit a Complaint Form Online: Employees wishing to file a complaint may begin the process by completing the Office of Equal Opportunity’s online complaint form at nyu.edu/eo.
4. Contact your supervisor or Dean: Supervisors and Deans and Dean’s designees are required to notify the Office of Equal Opportunity of reports that may violate this policy.
   
5. Contact the Human Resource Officer of the relevant School or Administrative Department: Human Resource Officers are required to notify the OEO of reports that may violate this policy. In addition, situations involving general inappropriate conduct, hostile or aggressive behavior, or workplace bullying of a non-discriminatory nature should be reported to the appropriate Human Resources Officer or the Office of Employee & Labor Relations.
   

No. Although witnesses or documentary evidence might be helpful to support an individual's claim, they are not required to file a complaint or pursue an investigation. The OEO’s investigators are skilled in conducting investigations and gathering relevant information in order to make a determination.

Yes, if the information you are seeking is not available in these FAQs or elsewhere on the OEO’s website, please contact our office at equal.opportunity@nyu.edu or call 212-998-2370 to speak to an administrator. We are happy to answer questions and address any concerns you may have.

No. There is no fixed deadline for reporting discrimination, harassment, retaliation or sexual assault complaints to the University. The University encourages prompt reporting of complaints so that it may respond appropriately and conduct an investigation while the matter is freshest in witnesses' memory and other evidence is most likely to be available.

Supervisors are held to a higher standard and must meet elevated expectations for identifying, reporting, and responding to discriminatory harassment. All NYU supervisors have the following responsibilities:

Lead by Example: It is imperative that managers and supervisors not only adhere to but enforce this Policy. Managers and supervisors have a special obligation not to engage in discrimination, harassment, retaliation or sexual assault.

Report and Respond: All management and supervisory personnel have an affirmative duty and are required to promptly report any discrimination, harassment, retaliation or sexual assault that they observe, learn about from others, or reasonably suspect has occurred with respect to an employee. Managers and supervisors who knowingly allow discrimination, harassment (including sexual/gender harassment), sexual assault, and/or retaliation to continue will be disciplined.

• If an employee reports discrimination or harassment, immediately inform the employee that you are required as a supervisor to notify the appropriate personnel so the University can respond appropriately. The OEO is the University's neutral unit charged with investigating allegations of discrimination and harassment in the working and learning environments in accordance with the University's Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy and Complaint Procedures for Employees.
• Thank the employee for speaking up, and offer to connect the employee to additional resources so they feel supported.
• Inform the employee that NYU has other resources in addition to the OEO, including NYU Campus Safety (212-998-2222) and Optum, the University’s Employee Assistance Program (1-800-437-0911) (confidential), both 24/7 resources.
• Do not attempt to investigate the matter on your own or place judgment on the parties involved.
  
• Rumors should be reported to the OEO, regardless of whether a manager or supervisor believes the rumor to be true or false.
  
• Do not wait until an incident “rises to a certain level” before making a report.
• Retaliation against individuals who made a complaint of discrimination or harassment or participated in some way in a discrimination proceeding is strictly prohibited and should be reported.
  

Yes, the University has a Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy for Students. NYU is committed to equal treatment and opportunity for its students, and to maintaining an environment that is free of bias, prejudice, discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

A student may make a complaint to any of the following:

• The Office of Equal Opportunity ("OEO") at 212-998-2370 or equal.opportunity@nyu.edu;
  
• The Office of the Chief Strategy Officer, Global Programs and University Life;
• The Director of the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards; or
• The Dean of Student Affairs, or equivalent position, of the applicable School, Portal Campus, or Study Away Site

This policy applies to all students of the University, and applies regardless of whether the alleged wrongdoer is a student. This policy applies when the conduct occurs on NYU premises, in the context of an NYU program or activity, or the conduct occurs outside the context of an NYU program or activity but has a continuing adverse effect as to the student’s participation in NYU programs or activity.

For more information, please visit the University Policies and Guidelines page or email equal.opportunity@nyu.edu.  

Yes, the University has a Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy for Non-Employees providing services to New York University. This Policy prohibits discrimination, harassment (including sexual/gender harassment), sexual assault and retaliation against independent contractors, freelancers, unpaid interns, research affiliates, postdoctoral fellows, volunteers, and other non-employees who are conducting business with or providing services to the University.

A non-employee may make a complaint by any of the following methods:

• Contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity ("OEO") at 212-998-2370 or equal.opportunity@nyu.edu;
  
• Contacting a relevant supervisor, internship coordinator or volunteer coordinator, as applicable; or
• Completing an on-line complaint form