Ohio State STEM Student Seeks Sixth Cir. Recognition as Employee

Appellate arguments Thursday over a former Ohio State University graduate student’s bid to revive claims that her adviser sexually harassed her will explore whether students are also employees of their schools.

A ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit should clarify when students who perform work as part of their studies are covered by federal job discrimination law. The answer is significant, because Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act generally sets a lower bar for employer liability and provides broader remedies than federal civil rights laws protecting students.

Meng Huang says a lower court ...