RACIAL HARASSMENT POLICY

from COURSE OF STUDY FOR LICENSED AND ORDAINED MINISTRY AND ADVANCED COURSE OF STUDY ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry Division of Ordained Ministry The United Methodist Church  - January 17, 2007

 

Persons enrolled in the Course of Study come under the jurisdiction of their own annual conference policies on racial harassment. However, while the person is in the Course of Study School the following policy shall also apply.

The Course of Study School is committed by Christian faith for justice for all persons and does not tolerate any behavior, verbal or physical, by any person associated with the school, which constitutes racial harassment against any other person associated with the school. Any person of the Course of Study School community who believes that he or she has been subjected to racial harassment should immediately report the situation to the Director of the Course of Study School. When reporting a complaint, the individual should be prepared to furnish accurate information (i.e., date, name and facts). All such complaints will be treated in a confidential manner to the extent feasible, while permitting the school to investigate the complaint thoroughly and to take appropriate action.

The school expects the cooperation of all members of the school community with respect to avoiding such harassment.

The school will investigate all complaints. If it is determined after an investigation that a member of the school community has violated this policy, he or she will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action up to an including suspension or termination from the school. In addition, a full report will be made to that person’s annual conference or judicatory body.


Definition of Racial Harassment
Any conduct directed against a person with the effect of insulting, degrading or abusing him/her because of his/her racial background.

Procedures
The Course of Study School is committed to using the process outlined below to deal with allegations of racial harassment within the school community. A racial harassment allegation may be resolved on an informal basis.

Any member of the school community who wishes to make a formal complaint, must submit a written description of the incident to the Director.

Allegations are thoroughly investigated by a Racial Harassment Committee composed of the Director and two members of the faculty. The investigation shall include a meeting with the person alleged to have engaged in the harassment. The accused and/or the complainant may bring a trusted colleague (other than an attorney), committed to maintaining confidentiality, with him/her to such a meeting.

If the Racial Harassment Committee decides inappropriate behavior has occurred, after completing the investigation, the Director takes appropriate disciplinary and/or other action related to the accused person’s participation in the Course of Study School on that campus. In addition, the Director will inform the accused person’s annual conference or judicatory body of the action taken.

The Course of Study School takes steps to ensure that a person against whom such a complaint is brought is treated appropriately and has adequate opportunity to respond to such accusations.

The complainant and the person complained against are notified of the disposition of the complaint. If the disposition involves any ongoing process the Director keeps the complainant informed until the process is complete.

Appeal Process
If the accuser or the accused is not satisfied with the action taken by the Course of Study School, s/he may express such dissatisfaction, in writing to the Director of Board of Ordained Ministry Relations, Division of Ordained Ministry, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, within 15 days after receiving notification of the disposition of the complaint.

Confidentiality
Every effort will be made to ensure confidentiality to the extent feasible, while permitting the school to investigate the complaint thoroughly and to take appropriate action.

The school will not tolerate retaliation against any member of the school community who complains of racial harassment.

Explanatory Notes
If the person alleged to have engaged in racial harassment is the Director, then the person bringing the complaint shall notify one or two faculty members who serve on the Racial Harassment Committee. The two faculty members shall ask the president of the seminary at the host school to appoint an administrative officer to serve as chairperson of the Sexual Harassment Committee and to function as the Director in the process outlined above.