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- Prohibiting all forms of harassment based on race or ethnicity,
- Creating and promoting a positive work environment that is free from any form of harassment,
- Encouraging good faith complaints when harassment based on race or ethnicity has occurred, and
- Providing options for addressing and resolving complaints of racial and ethnic harassment.
Definitions
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HARASSMENT BASED ON RACE OR ETHNICITY
Racial harassment is a form of discrimination which violates federal and state law, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Minnesota Human Rights Act and Bethel policy.
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- Physical contact or attacks for racist and discriminatory reasons directed toward a Bethel student, employee, official, or guest.
- Intimidation through the express or implied threat of force or violence directed toward the person, possessions, or residence of a Bethel student, employee, official, or guest.
- Verbal assaults or comments based on ethnicity that demean the color, culture, or ancestry of a Bethel student, employee, official, or guest, and perpetuate stereotypical beliefs about and attitudes toward ethnic groups. Such behaviors may include name-calling, racial slurs, slang references, derogatory comments and jokes.
- Nonverbal behavior that demeans the color, culture, or ancestry of a Bethel student, employee, official, or guest, and perpetuates stereotypical beliefs about and attitudes toward ethnic groups. Such behaviors may include gestures, portrayals, graffiti, offensive objects, or acts of exclusion or microaggressions.
Terms
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COMMUNITY MEMBER
Community member refers to Bethel’s students, faculty, staff, visitors, volunteers, vendors, consultants, third parties, and any person that provides services to Bethel.
Chief Diversity Officer
The Chief Diversity OfficerVICE PRESIDENT OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
The Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, who is also a Responsible Officer, provides leadership to ensure that the Bethel community advances diversity and dismantles racism and advances intercultural competency from an evangelical Christian orientation so that diversity and cultural competency are woven into the fabric of Bethel.
Compliance Officer
The Chief Human Resources Officer will act as the Compliance Officer responsible for the administration and supervision of the policy and procedures set forth herein. COMPLIANCE OFFICER
The Compliance Officer is the administrator to whom a complaint is reported and . The Compliance Officer ensures the complaint is addressed according to policy and procedures. Cara Wald, the University’s Chief Human Resources OfficerKuhn, Title IX Coordinator and Compliance Specialist, serves as the Compliance Officer with primary responsibility for oversight and enforcement of this Policypolicy, as well as identifying and addressing any systemic problems that arise during the review of complaints. Cara Wald may be contacted at 651.635.8657 or c-wald@bethel.edu.
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reached at title-ix@bethel.edu or 612-322-8908.
COMPLAINT
A complaint is an allegation that a student, employee, or applicant for admission or employment has been subjected to discrimination or harassment based on race or ethnicity.
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COMPLAINANT
A complainant is an individual or group of individuals who believe that discrimination or harassment may have or has occurred.
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ETHNICITY/
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ETHNIC
Ethnicity” and “ethnic” are terms used to refer either to a group of people who share certain cultural qualities such as nationality, culture, ancestry, language and beliefs or to those cultural qualities themselves.
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GRIEVANCE OFFICER
A grievance officer is a faculty member, staff, or administrator appointed by the President, who is trained to respond to formal and informal complaints of harassment.
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PROCEEDING
The term proceeding includes all activities, including but not limited to proceedings (both informal and formal), related to a non-criminal resolution of an institutional complaint, including: fact-finding investigations and formal or informal meetings. It does not include meetings between victims and officials regarding accommodations or protective measures.
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RACE
“Race” is a socially defined division of humanity based on a person's physical appearance, such as skin color, eye color, hair texture, bone/jaw structure, etc.
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RESPONDENT
A respondent is an individual or group of individuals against whom an allegation of racial or ethnic harassment is made.
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RESPONSIBLE OFFICER
A Responsible Officer is an administrator who, in partnership with the senior administrator as applicable, adjudicates the complaint.
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RESULT
A result is any initial, interim, and final resolution or decision by any official or entity authorized to resolve complaint matters within an institution. The result must include sanctions imposed. The result also must include the rationale for the result and the sanctions.
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If you have personally experienced any form of racial or ethnic harassment, tell someone as soon as possible. In order to initiate Bethel’s response and resolution process under this Policy, you or another person must notify the Compliance Officer. If a member of the Bethel community has a concern or has become aware of an instance of possible racial or ethnic harassment involving a student, faculty or staff member, the Compliance Officer must be contacted immediately. You may also choose to remain anonymous and submit an online anonymous report: https://www.bethel.edu/humanpeople-resourcesculture/complaints-concerns/submit-anonymous-report/. This report is separate from initiating an informal or formal complaint through Bethel University.
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It is strongly recommended that any individual involved in the resolution of a racial or ethnic harassment complaint seek personal support through relationships with a few trusted family members or friends. Additional support is available through Counseling Services or Campus Ministriesthe Office of Christian Formation and Church Relations. Bethel reserves the right to provide accommodations during the investigation process to create a safe and affirming environment.
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Regardless of whether a complaint has been received, Bethel may, at any time and at its sole discretion, initiate an investigation of or take action against any racial or ethnic harassment occurring within the Bethel community. In the event that the complainant does not wish to pursue the complaint process, any response by the University may be hindered by the complainant’s wishes for anonymity and/or inaction.
Revised 7/2016
February 2022