UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH PROCEDURE 07-01-03

CATEGORY:              PERSONNEL
SECTION:                  Recruitment
SUBJECT:                 Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment
EFFECTIVE DATE:   September 1, 2008 Revised
PAGE(S):                   3

I.    SCOPE

      This document establishes procedures pertaining to the University’s prohibition against

      discrimination and harassment, as fully set forth in the University of Pittsburgh’s

      Nondiscrimination Policy 07-01-03 and the University’s Anti-Harassment Policy Statement. 

      Excepted from the scope is the University’s Sexual Harassment Policy, for which the policy and

      procedure are set forth at 07-06-04.

II.   NONDISCRIMINATION AND ANTI-HARASSMENT PROCEDURE

      Any faculty, staff, or student who believes that he or she has been the victim of discrimination or

      harassment in violation of the University’s Nondiscrimination Policy or Anti-Harassment Policy

      Statement should contact his or her department chair, dean, director, immediate supervisor, or

      one of the persons identified at the end of this document.  Individuals have the right to raise

      issues of discrimination or harassment without fear of retaliation.  Complaints may be handled

      by the person/office receiving the complaint or referred to another appropriate office within the

      University.

      All complaints, whether informal or formal, verbal or written, must be given serious, impartial

      and timely consideration.  Not every act that might be offensive to an individual or group will be

      considered a violation of the Nondiscrimination Policy or the Anti-Harassment Policy Statement. 

      Whether a specific act is a violation of policy will be determined on a case-by-case basis, with

      due consideration for the protection of individual rights, freedom of speech and academic

      freedom.  While every effort will be made to protect the privacy of all parties, confidentiality

      cannot be guaranteed.

      If a matter is not resolved informally, a prompt investigation will be undertaken by the appropriate

      office.  In addition to the complainant and the accused, appropriate administrative personnel will

      be notified of the findings of the investigation.

      If the investigation concludes a violation of University policy has occurred, a chair, dean, director,

      supervisor or head of a responsibility center should initiate action within thirty (30) days of

      receiving the findings and recommendations of the investigating office.  The complainant and

      the accused will be informed when action has been taken.

      If an individual is found to have violated the University’s non-discrimination policy and/or anti-

      harassment policy statement, prompt steps will be taken that are reasonably calculated to stop

      the discriminatory conduct or harassment and, depending on the seriousness of the violation,

      the violator may be subject to disciplinary sanctions, including by not limited to, oral or written

      warning, required education program, mandatory counseling, reprimand, suspension (with or

      without pay), reassignment of responsibilities, termination of employment or expulsion from the

      University.  If it is found that the complaint is without reasonable foundation, the parties will be

      so informed and will also be informed that no further action is warranted.  All parties will be

      advised that retaliation is prohibited.  A record of the findings, recommendations, and the action

      taken must be kept in the unit that handled the complaint.

      Once a complaint has been reviewed and/or investigated as noted above, the determination of

      the chair, dean, director, head of responsibility center or supervisor may be appealed by the

      complainant or the accused as described below.

III.  APPEAL PROCEDURE

      The findings of an investigation and the actions of a chair, dean, director, head of responsibility

      center or supervisor may be appealed within thirty (30) days.  Appeals must be submitted in

      writing to the appropriate senior officer of the University, i.e., the Provost or Senior Vice

      Chancellor for the Health Sciences in complaints where a faculty member is the accused, the

      Executive Vice Chancellor in complaints where a staff member is the accused, or the Vice

      Provost and Dean of Students where a student is the accused.  The senior officer has thirty (30)

      days to respond to the appeal.  Decisions of the senior officer are final.

      Once a written appeal has been filed according to this procedure, the same appeal may not be

      filed through an alternative procedure within the University.

IV.  FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HOW TO PROCEED OR ON THIS PROCEDURE

      Pittsburgh Campus                                                  Regional Campuses

      Faculty, Staff or Students                                       Bradford Campus

      Carol W. Mohamed                                                    Dr. K. James Evans

      Office of Affirmative Action,                                        Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs or

        Diversity and Inclusion                                             Dr. Holly J. Spittler

      Director, (Title IX, 504 and ADA Coordinator)            Associate Dean of Student Affairs and

      University of Pittsburgh                                                Director of Career Services

      412 Bellefield Hall                                                       Common Building

      (412) 648-7860                                                           (814) 362-3801

      Faculty                                                                       Greensburg Campus

      Andrew R. Blair                                                          Carol A. Calloway

      Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs                                  Registrar and Special Assistant to the

      826 Cathedral of Learning                                             President for Minority and Diversity Affairs

      (412) 624-5749                                                           Room 123 Millstein Library

                                                                                          (724) 836-9904

      Graduate Students/Postdocs                                 Johnstown Campus

      Patricia Beeson                                                          Robert Yaskanich

      Vice Provost for Undergraduate and                          Director of the Personal Counseling Center

        Graduate Studies                                                     121 Blackington Hall

      809 Cathedral of Learning                                          (814) 269-7118

      (412) 624-0790

                                                                                          Titusville Campus

      Staff                                                                          

                                                                                          Shelly L. Proper

      John Greeno                                                               Director of Counseling/Student Development

      Associate Vice Chancellor                                           Office of Student Affairs

      Office of Human Resources                                      (814) 827-4465

      117 Craig Hall

      (412) 624-4645

     Students - Undergraduate

      Kathy Humphrey

      Vice Provost and Dean of Students

      809 Cathedral of Learning

      (412) 624-4221

V.   FOR COUNSELING SERVICES

      Faculty and Staff Assistance Program                       University Counseling Center

      504 Medical Arts Building                                            334 William Pitt Union

      (412) 647-3327 or (800) 647-3327                              (412) 648-7930

VI.  REFERENCES

      Policy 07-01-03, Nondiscrimination, Equal Opportunity, and Affirmative Action

      Policy 07-06-04, Sexual Harassment