Emory has updated its Equal Opportunity and Discriminatory Harassment Policy 1.3, strengthening the institution’s commitment to effectively addressing discrimination and harassment concerns. The revised policy, effective May 20, 2025, streamlines the complaint filing process and provides clearer guidance for the community regarding prohibited discriminatory conduct.
Policy 1.3, deeply rooted in Titles VI and VII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 and various laws which prohibit discrimination based on personal characteristics such as race, color, religion, or national origin and disability, outlines the Emory community’s responsibility to actively maintain a learning and working environment free from unlawful discrimination and harassment.
Recently, students, faculty and staff expressed the need for a more transparent and accessible system for filing discrimination complaints, leading to a months-long review and revision of the policy involving departments and administrators across Emory’s campuses.
The revised Policy 1.3 contains expanded information about the protected class characteristics and provides more detailed and straightforward procedures for investigating discrimination complaints, including clearer steps of the adjudication and sanctioning processes. These changes are designed to make the process more accessible and understandable for all community members.
Updates to Policy 1.3
A key change in Policy 1.3 is the consolidation of all discrimination investigations under the Department of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance (DECRC). This approach not only simplifies the process for handling complaints but also ensures the consistent handling of all discrimination cases.
"We heard from our community that the previous process, which directed student complaints to the various school conduct offices, created confusion and uncertainty,” says Maurice Middleton, associate vice provost for institutional equity and compliance. "Consolidating the investigatory authority under the DECRC reflects our ongoing commitment to civil rights and compliance and to the thorough addressing of concerns raised by our students, faculty and staff.”
The department will have sanctioning authority in matters involving students, collaborating closely with school conduct offices for implementation of those sanctions. Additionally, the policy introduces a new appeals procedure, allowing all parties involved to appeal decisions.
Policy 1.3 now provides enhanced clarity around legally protected characteristics, particularly regarding pregnancy and national origin, including a robust description of shared ancestry that covers ethnoreligious identities, tribe and caste. The policy includes clearer definitions of discrimination and detailed explanations of how discriminatory behavior is addressed.
To support the consolidation of investigations under the DECRC, Emory has increased staffing within the department to ensure thorough and timely investigations. The department has also launched a new online tool to make it easier for community members to file complaints. Additionally, DECRC will offer a training program in June to educate students about discriminatory harassment and community standards.
Reporting concerns
Students, faculty and staff who believe they have experienced discriminatory conduct based on race, color, religion, sex, ethnic or national origin (including shared ancestry), age, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, veteran’s status or disability status are encouraged to file a complaint with the DECRC through its new online form.
In addition, Emory faculty and staff are encouraged to report possible incidents of discrimination or harassment they observe or learn about. To aid them in understanding their roles in reporting, the DECRC has published guidelines on its website.
“When a student, faculty or staff member feels they have experienced discrimination or harassment based on their protected identity, we want them to know that DECRC is here to help address those concerns and ensure they understand their rights and options,” says Niger Thomas, who directs the DECRC.
The Department of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance is part of Emory’s Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance, which advances the university’s commitment to equity and fair treatment of all members of our community. Visit the office’s website for contact information.