Faculty Council  (“FC”)

November 6, 2003

MEETING SUMMARY

 


Action Items Completed…

ü      Memorial Resolution for Robert B. Stonehill, Professor of Medicine (Faculty stood for a moment of silence).

 

Information Items Presented…

 

As always, meetings will be held in Inlow Hall 100 (the Wynne Courtroom).  Bookmark the list of meeting dates found at http://www.iupui.edu/~fcouncil/meetings/fcmeetings.html .

 

 

 

Campus (Non) Violence Task Force policy recommendations

 

On January 9, 2003, Acting Chancellor William M. Plater appointed members of a task force to consider policies and practices related to campus violence.  The Task Force was charged to:

 

1.       Review current IUPUI policies that address violence, civility, and interpersonal crisis management

2.       Research violence, disruptive behavior, civility and interpersonal crisis management policies at other institutions

3.       Review best practices in violence, civility, and interpersonal crisis management

4.       Recommend necessary policy changes to appropriate bodies in order to:

 

a.       Decrease risk for future violence

b.       Determine policy for reporting of suspicious behaviors

c.       Develop codes of conduct that are cause for immediate dismissal, with full due process

d.       Develop a plan for informing appropriate administrative levels of behaviors reported to police

e.       Establish and disseminate a de-escalation protocol

f.       Establish effective supervisory training regarding workplace violence.

 

5.       Bring specific policy recommendations forward to the appropriate governing bodies

6.       File a comprehensive report of the findings and recommendations of the Task Force.

 

During the last few months, the Campus (Non) Violence Task Force accomplished the following:

 

§        Reviewed current IUPUI policies that address violence, civility and interpersonal crisis management.

§        Researched violence, disruptive behavior, civility and interpersonal crisis management policies at other institutions, including University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Michigan State University, University of Illinois - Urbana/ Champaign, Ohio /State University, Central Michigan University, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Wayne State University, and University of Illinois – Chicago.  (See attached chart)

§        Reviewed best practices in violence, civility and interpersonal crisis management.

§        Sought and reviewed comments from staff and faculty

 

 

At the present time, the University does not have one comprehensive campus violence policy for faculty, staff and students.  The Human Resources Policy Manual has a workplace violence policy in place for all nonacademic employees on the IUPUI campus.  The Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct handbook includes sections on Personal Misconduct on University Property and Disciplinary Procedures for Personal Misconduct for students.  The Academic Handbook does not include a policy on campus violence.  The taskforce concluded that one policy be created that will encompass all university employees, students and visitors.  Corrective action should be equal for all groups; however the procedures may differ slightly between faculty, staff, students and visitors.

 

The taskforce recommends the following components for the new campus non-violence policy:

 

                                                                   I.     Zero Tolerance

 

Develop a “zero tolerance” policy.  Industry experts say that an anti-violence strategy begins with a “zero tolerance” plan and a written plan to back it up.   A typical zero tolerance policy prohibits intimidation, threats of violence (bodily harm or property damage) and acts of violence.  We will need to define “zero tolerance” and set the consequences of violating that policy.  We could define zero tolerance as mandatory reporting of incidents and appropriate corrective action.  Consequences of violating the policy may include referral to the EAP program, suspension, termination and criminal prosecution.

 

                                                                 II.     Defining Violence

 

Types of campus violence covered by the policy include the following:

§        Domestic violence

§        Verbal assaults

§        Physical assaults/attacks

§        Threats – intimidation

§        Stalking

§        Harassing communication – email, voice mail, other

§        Disruptive behavior

§        Property damage – vandalism, theft, arson, computer hacking

§        Possession of weapons

§        Major assaults on campus

 

 

                                                               III.     Reporting

 

                                                                                    IV.          All employees will have an obligation to report incidents of campus violence.

 

a.       Violent acts and incidents will be reported to the front line supervisor, the unit head (dean, other administrative head), the appropriate Vice Chancellor and the campus police.

 

b.       For incidents involving faculty, the Executive Vice-Chancellor will be notified.  For incidents involving staff, the Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance and Assistant Vice Chancellor of Human Resources will be notified.  For incidents involving students, the Vice Chancellor of Student Life and Diversity will be notified. 

 

c.       Cumulative data will be shared with the crisis management team. 

 

d.       The taskforce stresses that the policies should include clauses precluding retaliation and sanctions for deliberate false charges.

 

e.       In addition to the reporting structure, the policy will also need to include time lines for action.  We recommend that a clause be included to the timelines that would ensure extensions due to extraordinary circumstances.  For instance, if a victim is out of the office for an extended period of time due to injury as a result of a campus violence incident, they should be allowed additional time in the process.

 

                                                                  V.     Procedures

 

a.       All employees:  When an incident is reported to campus police, they will contact the appropriate Vice Chancellor’s office and unit head.  Incidents will also need to be reported to the immediate supervisors of the parties involved in the incident.

 

b.       Visitors: Incidents should be reported to campus police.  If the victim is a faculty member, the Executive Vice-Chancellor will be notified.  If the victim is a staff member, the Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance and the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Human Resources will be notified.  If the victim is a student, the Vice Chancellor of Student Life and Diversity will be notified.

 

 

                                                                VI.     Prevention

 

a.       Pre-hire practices:  A criminal background check for new employees in their last seven counties of residence will be performed by the appropriate Vice-Chancellor’s office. 

 

b.       Training:  The taskforce recommends a comprehensive training program that includes the following:

 

                                                                                                                I.     Mandatory training for all current faculty and staff

                                                                                                               II.     Training included in orientation

                                                                                                             III.     Development of web-based training

 

c.       Communication:  Communication is the key to implementing the new policy.  The Crisis management team can assist in communication efforts to everyone on campus.  We recommend that efforts include the following:

 

                                                                                                                I.     The new policy will be included in campus publications.

                                                                                                               II.     The new policy will be discussed in Staff Council and Faculty Council, with policy changes approved by each body as appropriate. 

                                                                                                             III.     A web page be created for the policy and be linked to other appropriate sites and resources

                                                                                                             IV.     An FAQ be developed and included on the web page

 

                                                              VII.     Changes to Policy

 

                                                                                VIII.          Changes to policy will be made by the three Vice Chancellor offices for faculty, staff and students. 

 

a.       Faculty Council, Staff Council and Student Government will be involved in changes to policy.

 

 

                                                                IX.     Crisis Management Team

                                                                                      X.          This team will receive cumulative data on campus violence incidents.  We recommend the following responsibilities:

 

                                                                                                                I.     CMT will coordinate communication after incidents of violence.

                                                                                                               II.     They may also assist in the training and communication efforts of the new policy.

                                                                                                             III.     They may be contacted by administration for advising

                                                                                                             IV.     They may develop de-escalating protocols

 

The taskforce also discussed creating an independent Ombudsperson position on campus as an ongoing resource for staff and faculty. 

 

 

 

Dean Plater then made the following clarification that, yes, tenured faculty may choose to undergo a review for reasons of professional development, etc. (i.e. – a voluntary review, which is accounted for in the process as well as involuntary reviews).

 

ü      Bantz commended the Campus Non-Violence Task Force on their diligence and thorough exploration of a complex issue. 

 

ü      IUB Chancellor Sharon Brehm has resigned in order to allow President Herbert maximum flexibility as he reviews and possibly revises administrative structure throughout the university.

 

ü      Vice Chancellor for External Affairs Cheryl Sullivan has accepted the position of secretary of Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. As a result, she will be taking a 15-month leave of absence from IUPUI.  Bantz expressed his great pride in Sullivan’s new post and emphasized that different aspects of her university duties will be temporarily reallocated to various areas (such as Student Life and Administration & Finance).  IUPUI may search for a temporary appointment to handle certain facets of Sullivan’s responsibilities.

 

ü      Progress continues on the two dean searches currently underway (Schools of Nursing and Liberal Arts).

 

ü      Bantz congratulated Trudy Banta on the unparalleled success of her annual conference on assessment practices.

ü      On November 5, IUPUI was honored to recently welcome Elizabeth Blackburn, Ph.D., “whose research focus is the normal processes of cell death for the development of new techniques for treating cancer cells, was the recipient of the 2003 Steven C. Beering Award at the Indiana University School of Medicine. “ (SOURCE: IUSoM Website).  Dr. Bantz was pleased to introduce Dr. Blackburn to the many different aspects of the campus and was pleased to announce her positive response to the richness of academic life and work on campus, within the medical school and (to her surprise) outside of it, as well.

 

 

ü      All faculty should have received an interest survey via e-mail re: service on the Board of Review Pool, Faculty Grievance Advisory Panel, Executive Committee and Nominating Committee.  If you did not receive a survey or require assistance with it, please call Molly at 274.2215.  Surveys are due back by December 2nd.

 

ü           Please keep an eye on your e-mail in-box in November; ballots for the nomination of At-Large representatives to the IUPUI Faculty Council (to be elected in Spring 2004) will be arriving this month.

 

 

 

THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE ON THURSDAY DECEMBER 4 FROM 3:30-5:30pm IN INLOW HALL 100 (“The Wynne Court Room”)