Student Mistreatment Policy

Policy Manual

  • Effective Date: 03/05/2019

TO WHOM THIS POLICY APPLIES 

All students of the University of Nevada, School of Medicine

WHO NEEDS TO KNOW THIS POLICY

Faculty, Staff, Residents, Students, Clinical and other affiliates

PURPOSE/BACKGROUND

Mistreatment of students may occur in many forms and can seriously impair the educational experience. This policy is intended to define inappropriate conduct in relationships with/and between students to ensure access to educational programs that prohibit student mistreatment. It also describes the mechanism through which students can report violations without fear of retaliation, as well as the process for reporting and sharing mistreatment information. For the purposes of this policy, community is defined as all sites where University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) students receive training.

POLICY

UNR Med is committed to an environment of mutual respect that ensures access to educational programs that prohibit student mistreatment at all sites where UNR Med students receive training. All members of the medical school community are expected to maintain a positive learning environment in which students, faculty, staff and residents treat each other with respect. Members of the community, including institutional leaders, will not tolerate harassment, intimidation, exploitation and/or abuse. Retaliation against students reporting mistreatment is regarded as a form of mistreatment and will not be tolerated. Accusations that retaliation has occurred will be handled in the same manner as accusations concerning other forms of mistreatment. Malicious accusations - a complainant or witness found to have been dishonest or malicious in making allegations at any point during the investigation may be subject to disciplinary action. The Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs is responsible for addressing all student mistreatment issues.

Examples of Mistreatment:
Specific examples of mistreatment include, but are not limited to:

  • Yelling at and/or verbally berating a student in public or private
  • Actions reasonably interpreted as demeaning or humiliating in public or private
  • Assigning duties as a means of punishing students instead of for educational benefits
  • Unwarranted exclusion from learning opportunities
  • Threats to fail, assign a lower grade or give a poor evaluation for non-academic reasons
  • Requesting that students complete personal chores or errands
  • Unwelcome or inappropriate comments or discrimination related to a student's physical appearance, age, gender, race, ethnicity or culture, sexual orientation, sexual identity, religion, disability or marital status
  • Pushing, shoving. slapping, hitting, tripping, throwing objects or other forms of physical intimidation
  • Sexual harassment per the NSHE Administrative Code. Title 4, Chapter 8, Section

Reporting Student Mistreatment:

Students may report mistreatment confidentially online or directly to any UNR Med faculty member or staff. All reports of mistreatment are reviewed by the Executive Associate Dean and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs, the Associate Dean for Medical Education, and may include the Associate Dean for Diversity if the mistreatment claim includes bias or discrimination. Faculty, staff, residents and clinical affiliates may report student mistreatment using the same online portal or to the Chief Academic Officer at their facility.

Incident Reporting Form

Sharing Student Mistreatment Information:
Student mistreatment information will be shared in a bi-annual de-identified disclosure to UNR Med administrative leadership, curricular committees, department chairs and Chief Academic Officers for all affiliates. Individual incidents will be shared in one or more of the following ways, depending on the nature of the incident and the impact on future contact with students.

  • Resident Involvement: The department chair, designated institution official (DIO), and program director.
  • UNR Med faculty involvement: The dean, department chair, UNR Med legal, program directors, block directors and/or clerkship directors.
  • Hospital-employed faculty or staff involvement: The Chief Academic Officer and UNR Med department chair. Program directors, block directors and/or clerkship directors may also be notified.
  • Community Faculty: The course director and clinical chair are notified. The director of the Office of Community Faculty, Program directors, block directors and/or clerkship directors may also be notified.

Promoting a Positive Learning Environment

The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine provides ongoing educational and developmental opportunities to promote a positive learning environment respectful of all individuals. The policy will be included in both student and resident handbooks and will be posted on the medical school website. The topic will be addressed annually throughout the medical school and will include resources for identification and prevention of mistreatment and abuse.

  • Residents: The policy will be included in the resident handbook and will be addressed at resident physician orientation sessions.
  • Faculty: The policy will be distributed electronically by the Dean to Faculty Council and to all faculty members. The policy will be a part of all new and renewed adjunct appointments. including clinical and volunteer faculty.
  • Affiliated Institutional Staff: The policy will be included in all new and renewed affiliation agreements with clinical sites. A letter will be sent from the Associate Dean for Student Affairs to the Chief Executive Officer at affiliated institutions requesting distribution of the policy to all staff interacting with medical school students. The Office of Admissions and Student Affairs will be available for presentations on the topic to various groups.