Overview of Employee Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Grievance/Complaint Procedure
Summary and flow chart of investigation process
This site provides a brief overview of the Employee Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Grievance/Complaint Procedure.
The Employee Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Grievance/Compliant Procedure is the process W&M uses to respond to reports (complaints, information, grievances, accusations, allegations, etc.) of discrimination, harassment and retaliation by a current W&M faculty or staff member, or a third party (including vendors, contractors, alumni/ae, visitors or local residents, for example). The "Scope" section of the Procedure (Section II) has more information about when the Procedure is used.
At the beginning of the Procedure, the Review Team conducts an initial assessment of the report. The Review Team decides whether or not an investigation will be conducted and advises on interim measures, as appropriate. Interim measures protect reporting parties, members of the university community and prevent retaliation. If an investigation is conducted, a report is produced and shared with the parties, who have an opportunity to respond. The Provost reviews the report and determines whether the matter may be resolved administratively or whether the matter should proceed to a hearing. Determinations are made based on the preponderance of the evidence, and both parties have equal rights throughout the process to notifications, advisors, and information. If the matter proceeds to a hearing, both parties have appeal rights. If a faculty member is the respondent there are some additional procedural steps.
