Mistreatment of Students or Unprofessional Behavior
The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health is committed to providing a positive and supportive learning environment for all and does not tolerate any incidents of discrimination, mistreatment or harassment of students.
We encourage students, faculty and staff to report incidents of learner mistreatment.
Our online reporting form is secure and confidential, and reports may be made anonymously. All reporters will be protected from retaliation.
View our policy on mistreatment of students
More information
- Definition and examples of student mistreatment
- Potential consequences of reporting mistreatment
- Process for handling mistreatment reports
Definition and examples of student mistreatment
The UW School of Medicine and Public Health defines mistreatment as:
- Public belittlement or humiliation
- Threats of physical harm or actual physical punishment
- Requirements to perform personal services, such as shopping
- Being subjected to unwanted sexual advances
- Being asked for sexual favors in exchange for grades
- Being denied opportunities for training because of gender, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation
- Being subjected to offensive remarks/name based on gender, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation
- Receiving lower grades or evaluation based on gender, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation.
Examples of such behaviors include but are not limited to:
- Belittling or humiliation
- Discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ethnic background, age, or physical ability
- Disregard for the safety of others
- Insults or verbal attacks
- Sexual harassment
- Taking credit for another individual’s work
- Threats of physical harm or physical attacks
- Threatening to assign a lower grade or to write a poor evaluation as a means of intimidation.
Potential consequences of reporting mistreatment
All student concerns will be registered and investigated. No person shall be subject to retaliation for using or participating in an informal or formal complaint resolution process. State and federal laws and university policy protect against retaliation for reporting sexual harassment, sexual violence, stalking or dating or domestic violence. University policy prohibits retaliation against a person because he or she made a report, filed a complaint, participated in the investigation of a complaint or assisted others who raised a complaint.
Retaliation is a serious offense that can result in disciplinary action for students or employees. This protection from retaliation applies for any complaint made in good faith, even if it is eventually dismissed or found lacking in merit. A complaint will be presumed to have been made in good faith unless it is found to be a knowing falsehood or made with no factual basis whatsoever.
Parties found to be in violation of the mistreatment policy will be reported to the appropriate body at their sponsoring institution for review and disciplinary action pursuant to the rules and policies of their institution.
Process for handling mistreatment reports
When a mistreatment report is received, School of Medicine and Public Health Student Mistreatment Triage Committee, comprised of senior leaders of the school, reviews the report and determines the appropriate party to investigate and resolve the concern.
The party is responsible for thoroughly investigating the concern and resolving it in a fair and timely fashion. They will then report the resolution information back to the Student Mistreatment Triage Committee, which follows up and closes the loop with the reporter of student mistreatment.