Rights and Responsibilities of the Complainant and of the Accused
Rights and Responsibilities Complainants
- An equity officer will meet with you privately to discuss the
issue.
- You will not be prejudged or judged upon expressing a complaint.
- Your complaint will be taken seriously, and you will be treated
with respect, courtesy, sensitivity, dignity, understanding,
and professionalism.
- An equity officer will discuss options available to you to address
your situation, and he/she will facilitate an appropriate
problem resolution process based on a client’s needs.
- It is your right to have the complaint investigated and resolved
in a timely manner. The Equity Office in collaboration
with the dean/unit head will make a good faith effort to resolve the
complaint as promptly as possible.
- You have the right to confidentiality.
Only individuals responsible for or involved with the
investigation will have access to the information you provide regarding
the complaint. Should the complaint result in a grievance or
disciplinary or other formal process, the information you provide
may be used in that process.
- It is the responsibility of a complainant to sign complaint
alleging that he or she
witnessed or was the victim of sexual harassment, or otherwise has credible,
verifiable information (e.g.,
names of persons involved
and other witnesses) that such harassment has occurred
if he/she wants the University to conduct an investigation.
- You will be assisted in privately contacting counseling and
other available resources
and other support systems, if you wish.
- It is your responsibility not to take any actions against the
accused. Specifically, you should not attempt to contact
the grievant in any fashion during the course of resolving the complaint,
except as necessary to perform academic or job-related duties.
- It is your right to know the steps taken to resolve the complaint.
You will be fully informed by the equity officer regarding
the status of the investigation.
- You have the responsibility of providing as much information
as possible as requested by the investigators in order
to provide a fair and just resolution to the complainant.
- You share responsibility for maintaining confidentiality. In
doing so, you are protecting your own privacy as well as
the privacy of the grievant, witnesses and other involved parties.
Disclosure of the existence, nature or details or the case
to individuals not directly involved is forbidden. Additionally, you
should not attempt to conduct your own inquiry regarding the complaint
at this time. To do so would complicate and possibly adversely
affect the efforts of the investigators.
- It is your right to be notified of the final disposition of the
complaint; that is, whether the complaint was substantiated.
You will receive a summary of the investigation and findings.
- It is your right to appeal internally or grieve externally any
decisions made and/or actions taken resulting from the
complaint. The equity officer will fully advise you regarding your rights.
- It is your responsibility not to make false claims as such will
be considered misconduct and subject to disciplinary measures.
Rights and Responsibilities of the Accused
- It is your right to have an opportunity to fully respond to the
complaint. After an initial meeting with the equity officer,
you are encouraged to formalize your response in writing, addressing
each concern.
- It is your right to have the complaint investigated and resolved
in a timely manner. The Equity Office in collaboration with
the dean/unit head will make a good faith effort to resolve the complaint
as promptly as possible.
- It is your responsibility not to take any actions against the
complainant that could be considered retaliation. Specifically,
you should not attempt to contact the grievant in any fashion
during the course of resolving the complaint, except as necessary to
perform academic or job-related duties.
- It is your right to know the steps taken to resolve the complaint.
You will be fully informed by the equity officer regarding
the status of the investigation.
- You have the responsibility of providing as much information
as possible as requested by the investigators in order to
provide a fair and just resolution to the complainant.
- You have the right to confidentiality. Only individuals responsible
for or involved with the investigation will have access to the
information you provide regarding the complaint. Should the complaint
result in a grievance or disciplinary or other formal process,
the information you provide may be used in that process.
- You share responsibility for maintaining confidentiality. In
doing so, you are protecting your own privacy as well as the
privacy of the grievant, witnesses and other involved parties. Disclosure
of the existence, nature or details or the case to individuals
not directly involved is forbidden. Additionally, you should
not attempt to conduct your own inquiry regarding the complaint at
this time. To do so would complicate and possibly adversely
affect the efforts of the investigators.
- It is your right to be notified of the final disposition of the
complaint; that is, whether the complaint was substantiated.
You will receive a summary of the investigation and findings.
- It is your right to appeal internally or grieve externally any
decisions made and/or actions taken resulting from the complaint.
The equity officer will fully advise you regarding your rights.
- It is your right not to be subjected to false complaints or frivolous
and malicious complaints. Complaints found to be such will
be considered misconduct and subject to disciplinary measures.
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