Procedure Name: Discrimination and Harassment Procedures for Reporting and Investigating Complaints |
Date Approved: Revised and approved by the President on February 22, 2016. |
Procedure Category: Workplace/Employee Relations |
Date Effective: |
Policy Authority: Board of Governors Policy 1.2.150 |
Date Last Revised: |
Approval Authority: University President |
Review Cycle: |
Responsible Department: University President |
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If a student, faculty member, staff member or visitor believes that he or she has been discriminated against based on age, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability/handicap or genetic information or harassed; or if he or she has witnessed such discrimination or harassment, that person should promptly report it using one or both of the following methods:
A. Any student, faculty member, staff member or visitor is encouraged to discuss the matter with the appropriate University Representative as defined above and/or with the Equity Administrator.
B. The University Representative who receives the complaint shall record the reported
information using the UCM Discrimination/Harassment Complaint Form. The University Representative shall submit the UCM Discrimination/Harassment Complaint
Form to the Equity Administrator no more than one (1) Business Day after receiving
the complaint.
C. The University Representative will identify the nature of the conduct reported,
the persons involved, the alleged facts reported and a suggested/requested solution.
1. Such solutions could include, but are not limited to:
• reassigning the Complainant to a different course, instructor, work assignment or
supervisor;
• voluntary counseling or training for the Respondent; or
• a voluntary apology by the Respondent.
2. The Equity Administrator shall attempt to arrive at an informal resolution and shall be guided by the concern for fairness to all parties involved.
D. Response by the Equity Administrator to the Complainant will be written and will
include the proposed resolution and the time frame for implementation of any needed
action. The entire process should be completed within ten (10) Business Days of receipt
of the complaint. If it is not possible to complete the process within ten (10) Business
Days, during that time period, an explanation for the delay will be communicated to
appropriate parties.
E. To the extent possible, complaints, information gathered during the informal process
and the Equity Administrator’s written response shall remain CONFIDENTIAL. The informal
report should be discussed only among the University Representative receiving the
report, the Equity Administrator and others on a need-to-know basis as determined
by the director of human resources.
F. If the informal resolution requires communication with the Respondent or if the
identity of the Complainant must be revealed to the Respondent, the Equity Administrator
shall provide a warning to the Respondent that federal and state law and UCM policy
prohibits Retaliation against persons who have filed complaints or persons who participate
in the complaint process.
G. If the Complainant is not satisfied with the proposed resolution, Complainant may
initiate the Formal Procedure as indicated below.
Complainants are encouraged to attempt the Informal Procedure outlined above prior to initiating the Formal Procedure, but are not required to do so. The Formal Procedure shall be pursued as follows:
A. If the Complainant initiates the formal complaint procedure, he or she should submit
a complaint in writing, signed and dated, to the Equity Administrator as soon as possible
after the alleged conduct or after the attempt to use the Informal Procedure proves
to be unsatisfactory. The written complaint should contain the date of the event,
the general nature of the event, the words or conduct involved, the name(s) of the
Respondent(s), the names of any witnesses, and a description of any similar incidents
involving the same parties in the past. The Equity Administrator shall maintain forms
for the purpose of making such complaints, but use of a particular form is not required.
B. The Equity Administrator shall notify the Respondent that a complaint has been
filed and provide a warning to the Respondent that federal and state law and UCM policy
prohibits Retaliation against persons who have filed complaints or whom he or she
believes to have filed complaints, or who have participated in an investigation, even
if those complaints are ultimately proven to be false.
C. The Equity Administrator will investigate or designate an Investigator.
D. The Respondent shall provide the Investigator a written statement responding to
the allegations within five (5) Business Days of receiving notification of the specifics
of the complaint. The written statement may be supplemented as necessary at any time
during the investigation. The Investigator may interview the Complainant, the Respondent
and any other persons believed to have relevant information about the alleged conduct
or similar conduct by the Respondent. Both the Complainant and the Respondent are
encouraged to bring all relevant evidence and potential witnesses to the attention
of the Investigator.
E. The Investigator will prepare a written report, making relevant findings of fact,
within fifteen (15) Business Days of receiving the complaint. Additional time may
be taken for extenuating circumstances such as the unavailability of a key witness.
The Investigator will provide the report to the Respondent’s vice president or university
director.
F. The vice president or university director will review the report and confer with
the Equity Administrator. The vice president or university director will render a
determination. The vice president or university director will convey this determination
in writing to the Complainant and to the Respondent, with copies to the Equity Administrator.
G. The Complainant and/or the Respondent may appeal the decision of the vice president
or university director by taking the following action: 1. The Complainant or the Respondent
may appeal the decision by directing a letter of appeal to the university president
within five (5) Business Days of receiving the vice president's or university director’s
decision. 2. If no appeal is made, the vice president or university director will
notify all parties that the complaint is closed.
H. If the matter is appealed to the university president he or she will review the
report and may confer with the vice president or university director and Equity Administrator.