Protected Class Definitions

On the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Boulder campus, the Discrimination and Harassment policy applies to the following categories:

  • Race Race is a societal identifier that attempts to distinguish people based on physical characteristics such as skin color, facial features, or hair (including hair texture, hair type, or hairstyle) that are commonly or historically associated with race. People may self-identify within certain ethnic and racial categories, including multiracial. All categories are protected under university policy.
  • Color Refers to the pigmentation of one’s skin. An individual can make an allegation of color discrimination or color harassment against someone of the same race or color.
  • National Origin Refers to a person’s or a person's ancestors' place of origin or to the physical, cultural, or linguistic characteristics of an ethnic group. This also applies to persons with limited English proficiency.
  • Sex and Gender Sex refers to a medical interpretation of anatomy and biology that determines whether someone is assigned male, female, and/or intersex at birth. Gender refers to the social constructs surrounding gender roles.
  • Gender Identity Refers to an innate sense of one’s own gender, or an internal sense of who one is, regardless of anatomy.
  • Gender Expression Refers to how a person represents or expresses one’s gender to others through external appearance, characteristics, or behaviors typically associated with a specific gender.
  • Sexual Orientation Refers to the physical or emotional attraction and no attraction toward a certain sex or gender, including individuals who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, heterosexual, straight, pansexual, fluid, and asexual for instance. Also, individuals are protected from discrimination or harassment based on a perception of their sexual orientation, even if that perception is mistaken.
  • Disability Refers to a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of an individual. The policy also protects individuals who are regarded as having a disability or who have a record of a disability.
  • Pregnancy Individuals who are pregnant, just gave birth to a child, or suffer a medical condition as a result of pregnancy or childbirth are all protected.
  • Veteran Status Refers to anyone who serves or who has served in any branch of the United States armed forces, including students in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). Volunteers for military duty must be treated the same as those who are ordered to active duty.
  • Political Affiliation Refers to a person’s membership or association with others in commonality of political purpose and support.
  • Age Refers to discriminating against individuals because of their age, regardless of their age. Students are protected from age discrimination in academic situations like admissions decisions and residence hall assignments.
  • Religion/Creed Refers to religious, moral, or ethical beliefs that are sincerely held and includes all aspects of religious observance and practice.
  • Political Philosophy Refers to a person’s belief or endorsement of any system of thought pertaining to public policy or the administration of governmental functions.