Student Mistreatment Incident Management
Student mistreatment that involves discrimination, sexual harassment, or sexual mistreatment will be investigated by the Office of Compliance and Civil Rights following EP15 guidelines. Any student mistreatment that involves workplace violence and/or bullying will be investigated by Human Resources following BPPM 50.30 and/or 50.31 procedures.
Other forms of student mistreatment will be managed by the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine in two different ways based upon whether the alleged treatment was by a fellow student(s), or by a faculty, resident, administrator or staff member.
In cases involving alleged faculty, resident, administrator or staff mistreatment of a student that is not within the scope of EP 15, the process outlined below in the section labeled A will be followed. In cases in which a student alleges mistreatment by a fellow student or students that is not within the scope of EP 15, the process outlined below in the section labeled B will be followed.
A. Allegation of student mistreatment by faculty, resident, administrator or staff member: If the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs determines an investigation is warranted, they will determine who will oversee the investigation and inform other offices and individuals as appropriate, such as the appropriate Associate Dean for Clinical Education (ADCE), the Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education and Continuing Medical Education (ADGME/CME), and the appropriate Department Chair. The Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Office of Compliance may be enlisted to assist in and/or lead the investigation.
At this stage the identities, when available, of both the accused and accuser making a complaint may be revealed to the supervisor of the accused faculty, resident, administrator or staff member in order to pursue further process. A Dean of Student Affairs meets with the student before further investigation occurs to clarify if the student’s name is to be revealed at this stage and under what conditions that the student’s name may be revealed to different parties involved.
The Office of Admissions and Student Affairs is responsible for sharing the status of the investigation with the student throughout the process.
If the student or the faculty, administrator or staff member disagrees with the supervisor’s decision, they may appeal the decision to the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Dean.
B. Allegation of student mistreatment by a fellow student or students: Upon the receipt of a mistreatment report, the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs reviews the report. After reviewing the report and determining that future action is warranted and the allegation is not within the scope of EP 15, the report will be forwarded to the Associate Dean for Accreditation, Assessment and Evaluation (ADAAE). If needed, the ADAAE and Student Evaluation, Promotion, and Awards Committee (SEPAC) will ask for an investigation by the Professionalism Excellence Advisory Committee (PEAC) and/or by the College of Medicine Compliance Specialist. If the report involves workplace violence and/or bullying, the procedures outlined in BPPM 50.30 and/or 50.31 will be followed. In addition, PEAC, where permitted, may also conduct an investigation and/or take other actions consistent with this student mistreatment policy and BPPM 50.30 and/or 50.31. The ADAAE will determine if a violation of student professionalism occurred; if so, that will be reported to the SEPAC for their consideration and action. During any investigation involving student interviews or requests for statements or evidence, the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs will assign advocates to the involved parties so no individual is responsible for advocating for students on both sides of the allegation.
The Office of Admissions and Student Affairs is responsible for sharing the status of the investigation with the student throughout the process.
If the accused disagrees with SEPAC’s decision regarding a finding of mistreatment, they may appeal the decision to the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Dean, as put forth in SEPAC policy and procedures.