Undergraduate Catalog Publication Information

Publication Information

The provisions of this catalog do not constitute a contract, expressed or implied, between any applicant or student and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The university reserves the right to change any of the provisions, schedules, programs, courses, rules, regulations, or fees whenever university authorities deem it expedient to do so.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of race, sex, disability, age, veteran status, national origin, religion, political affiliation, or sexual orientation. The university is subject to Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, Federal Executive Order 11246, Virginia's State Executive Order Number Two, and all other rules and regulations that are applicable. Anyone having questions concerning any of those regulations should contact the Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Office, 336 Burruss Hall, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0216, 540/231-7500, TYY 540/231-9460.

Sexual harassment is considered to be a form of discrimination based on sex and falls within the statutory prohibitions against sex discrimination. The university is committed to maintaining a working and a study environment free of sexual harassment. Accordingly, in compliance with Section 703 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, it is the university's policy not to tolerate any verbal, nonverbal, or physical behavior which constitutes sexual harassment. Personnel with supervisory responsibilities are required to take immediate and appropriate action when incidents of alleged sexual harassment are brought to their attention. Violations of the policy prohibiting sexual harassment may lead to disciplinary actions, including reprimand, suspension, or termination of employment or academic status.
Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or academic decisions, or
submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions, or
such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or academic environment.

Faculty, staff, students, and applicants for employment or admission with complaints of sexual harassment should contact the University EO/AA Office on a confidential basis and request an informal investigation.
Faculty, staff, and students may file formal complaints outside the university. Students may file formal complaints with the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Education. Faculty may file formal complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Staff may contact the State EEO Office or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.