III. Standards of the Tufts Community

Tufts University is an academic community where students pursue transformative intellectual growth and personal development for the purpose of improving the world.

The pursuit of these goals is a collaborative enterprise in which students, faculty, and staff must rely upon one another. Participation in this community thus requires a high degree of personal responsibility, sincerity of purpose, and community orientation.

Accordingly, all Tufts students are called to uphold the following community standards, and in so doing, learn and practice the habits that are essential for intellectual development and positive membership in an open society.

• Integrity - Tufts University students manifest honesty and respect for the truth in all of their interactions. As emerging or experienced scholars, Tufts students seek the truth in their work and maintain the highest personal and academic standards of integrity.
• Community - Tufts University students build and enhance their community and demonstrate positive participation in an open society. Tufts, as both an academic and social community, is committed to inclusiveness and fostering collaboration.
• Social Justice - Tufts University students work to make communities they are a part of more socially just. Tufts students seek to interact with and understand people who are different from themselves. Tufts students understand and appreciate how their decisions and actions impact others and are just and equitable in their treatment of all members of the community.
• Respect - Tufts University students demonstrate respect for themselves, for each other, and for the entire community. Respect includes promoting safety of all people and property. It also includes respecting the privacy and autonomy of all community members. In both the intellectual and social community, respect transcends disagreement to promote learning and understanding.
• Responsibility - Tufts University students accept responsibility for their learning, personal behavior, and future success and appropriately challenge others to do the same. Tufts students also accept their responsibility to participate positively in society and contribute to the common good.

A. Non-discrimination statement

Tufts does not discriminate in its educational programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability or handicap, sex or gender (including pregnancy, sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct including acts of sexual violence such as rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation and coercion), gender identity and/or expression (including a transgender identity), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, genetic information,  or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.  Retaliation is also prohibited. Tufts will comply with state and federal laws such as M.G.L. c. 151B, Title IX, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment and Rights Act, Executive Order 11246 and other similar laws that prohibit discrimination, all as amended. Tufts is an equal employment opportunity/ affirmative action employer. More detailed Tufts policies and procedures on this topic may be found online.

Unlawful discrimination has no place at Tufts University and offends the University’s core values including a commitment to equal opportunity and inclusion. All Tufts employees, faculty members, students and community members are expected to join with and uphold this commitment.

Any member of the Tufts University community has the right to raise concerns or make a complaint regarding discrimination (including sexual misconduct) under this policy without fear of retaliation. Any and all inquiries regarding the application of this statement and related policies may be referred to Jill Zellmer, MSW, Executive Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, Title IX and 504 Coordinator, at 617-627-3298, at 196 Boston Avenue, 4th Floor, Medford, MA 02155, or at jill.zellmer@tufts.edu. Anonymous complaints may also be made by reporting online.