Unwelcome behavior pervasive or severe enough that a reasonable person would find it hostile and/or intimidating and that does not further the University’s academic or operational interests is unacceptable to the extent that it makes the conditions for work inhospitable and impairs another person’s ability to carry out their responsibilities to the university. A person or a group can perpetrate this behavior. The person need not be more senior than or a supervisor to the target. Unacceptable behavior may include, but is not limited to:
Repeated acts or a pattern of hostile and/or intimidating behaviors are of particular concern. A single act typically will not be sufficient to warrant discipline or dismissal, but an especially severe or egregious act may warrant either.
These standards are to be construed within the context of the University’s historical and enduring commitment to academic freedom, freedom of expression, and the conception of the University as a place that must encourage and foster the free exchange of ideas, beliefs, and opinions, however unpopular. In no case shall a sanction be imposed in response to a complaint solely about the contents of a faculty member’s beliefs, views, or opinions taken in the abstract. The policy is not intended to constitute a general civility code addressing ordinary stresses of the workplace, such as occasionally insensitive language or behavior. Nor is it intended to constrain commonly accepted workplace management practices. Nor is it intended to constrain the freedom of faculty to speak out about troubling matters, criticize the administration or university policies, take part in political protest, or to promote and participate in labor unions. Rather, it is intended to address patterns of hostility or intimidation that impede persons from carrying out their duties to the University, ensuring that all, regardless of rank or status, may pursue their work and speak as they see fit.
A person who has been the target of hostile and/or intimidating behavior may use the informal process for redress or proceed directly to the formal process.
A person who believes they have been subjected to unacceptable hostile and/or intimidating behavior may wish to discuss the matter with the faculty involved either directly or through the intervention of an intermediary at the department, school/college, division, or campus level such as Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff, Ombuds, Employee Assistance Office, or union representative.
When a person believes that these rules have been violated and seeks to deal with the problem informally, they should be prepared to identify precisely the pattern or acts of conduct believed to constitute the violation. Precision is often aided by expressing the complaint in writing. If the matter is not promptly resolved, and if the person complained against so requests, the complainant shall provide such a written statement.
Oral and written communications occurring during the informal process may not be used as evidence in any subsequent formal proceeding.
If a complaint about unwelcome behavior is being handled informally, and there is a dispute about whether the alleged behavior constitutes a violation of these rules, the person or body handling the matter shall seek advice on this question from the Office of Human Resources (OHR) and inform those concerned of the advice received.
An individual may file a written complaint with the department or head of the equivalent unit in the case of non-departmental matters. If there is a conflict with the department chair/unit head, the individual may file with the dean. If upon investigation of the complaint, evidentiary support for discipline or dismissal is established, the department chair/unit head (or Dean) may initiate the disciplinary or dismissal process by filing a written complaint with the Provost. The written complaint filed with the Provost must also be shared with the faculty member or members against whom the disciplinary or dismissal process is initiated. If the department chair/unit head (or Dean) does not initiate the disciplinary or dismissal process within 30 days, the complainant may file a complaint directly with the Provost.
Discipline can be imposed on faculty members for violation of Faculty Policies and Procedures (FPP) 9.02. or 9.03. in compliance with the requirements of the formal processes delineated in Chapter 9 of FPP.
If filing a written complaint does not lead to a resolution, an employee can file a workplace grievance pursuant to applicable policies and procedures for the complainant’s employee category. Faculty members can file a grievance with the University Committee pursuant to FPP 8.15.
