This month, all university employees will begin participating in an online anti-harassment and discrimination course, Promoting a Respectful Campus Community (PARCC).

A culmination of years of effort among several university departments, the course leads participants through scenarios designed to educate them about acceptable behaviors and what it takes to make Georgetown a harassment-free workplace.

"When you agree to work at Georgetown University, you are expected to conduct yourself in a way that reflects this community's diversity," said Rosemary Kilkenny, vice president for institutional diversity and equity. "You are part of a community made up of various backgrounds and every person should be respected for who they are."

Some employees may think they already have a grasp on respectful behavior, but PARCC stresses the fine distinctions between offensive and acceptable conduct, said Mary Anne Mahin, vice president and chief human resources officer.

"In so many situations when people are offended, it's because of little nuances. The thrust of the class is about the gray areas, how what we say and do can be offensive even if you don't mean to negatively affect someone," she said.

University staff sat down five years ago to begin plotting out PARCC, and a steering committee first met in 2005 to begin assembling content. Getting to the roll-out point took until now because the working group wanted to make the course as comprehensive -- and technologically manageable -- as possible, Mahin said. Many faculty and staff contributed to the final product.

PARCC includes training on sexual, physical and verbal harassment, student-faculty relationships, and sexual orientation, racial, gender, religious and other forms of discrimination. Participants are given an overview of harassment laws and run through scenarios in various areas.

Along the way, employees are offered advice and given Web sites and phone numbers of Georgetown offices that address harassment and discrimination complaints.

"We want to make people aware of the resources we have on the campuses, so if there is a problem, it can be handled internally first," Kilkenny explained.

There are legal implications to inappropriate behavior, Mahin noted, something that helped originally prompt PARCC.

"Employers are being held accountable -- and there have been hefty penalties given in situations when employees have been harassed in the workplace," she said of cases nationwide. Anti-harassment laws are becoming more common, such as in California, where all supervisors are required to take a course.

The entire course takes about two hours to complete and, although it can be done at home, supervisors are expected to give employees time to complete it during the work day. The course may be divided into more than one sitting.

PARCC will roll out to all of three campuses during this semester. Campus leaders will send e-mails informing faculty and staff when they are expected to complete the course, which is hosted on Blackboard, and instructions for doing so. Several hundred employees already participated in a pilot program this past year to test PARCC and its technology.

The university has assistance in place for employees who are uncomfortable using a computer, do not have access to computers, have literacy issues or do not have English language proficiency.

PARCC will be offered in a live class taught by Linda Hopper, director of university training and development, and Michael Smith, associate director of the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Affirmative Action.

University Information Services (UIS) also will set up labs in Lauinger and Dahlgren libraries so those without computers can take the course online. UIS staff will be available to sit alongside employees to help them with the technology if needed.

After the campus roll-outs for existing faculty and staff, all new employees will be required to complete PARCC training before the end of their probationary period.

Campus leaders will receive regular reports about who has not completed PARCC so they can follow up with those employees. Those who do not complete the course within 30 days of enrollment will begin receiving e-mail reminders.

-- By Lauren Burgoon, Blue & Gray Assistant Editor

(October 18, 2007)