Faculty, administration, staff, and students are responsible for maintaining an educational and working environment that is harmonious with Bethel’s mission and program as a Christian learning community. Verbal or physical harassment of any member of the Bethel community based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, gender, or disability destroys that harmony. Such misconduct is a violation of Bethel policy and of state and federal law. While the goal of Bethel’s sexual, racial and ethnic harassment and disability discrimination policies is to bring reconciliation and restoration of relationships, appropriate action—educational or disciplinary, including suspension or dismissal—will be taken against any person found to have violated such a policy. Incidents will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Bethel University and the Bethel University Foundation (hereinafter referred to as Bethel) are committed to maintaining a Christ-centered community, free of discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and sexual misconduct in all of its forms. Bethel prohibits domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Bethel will not tolerate sexual misconduct by or against its students, faculty, or staff. In addition, visitors, volunteers, vendors, consultants, third parties, or any person that provides services to Bethel are required to comply with the provisions of this policy. All community members must comply with this policy, whether on campus or off campus, when engaged in activities sponsored by Bethel, or otherwise related to Bethel or its business. Such activities include, but are not limited to classes, seminars, meetings, and study abroad programs.
All employees are required to report any instance of sexual harassment, sexual violence, and sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator. The only exception to being a mandatory reporter is if one is a confidential resource. Confidential resources are:
Counseling Services Campus Ministries Health Services
651.635.8540 651.638.6372 651.638.6215
The purposes of this policy include:
Prohibiting all forms of sexual misconduct
Creating a work environment that is free from sexual misconduct
Encouraging good faith complaints when sexual misconduct has occurred
Providing options for addressing and resolving complaints of sexual misconduct
All incoming students and new employees are required to attend a program on primary prevention and awareness. Persons who believe that they have experienced sexual misconduct or have witnessed sexual misconduct of another community member are expected to bring the conduct to the attention of appropriate individuals so that Bethel can take prompt corrective action. Bethel will take prompt corrective action against any sexual misconduct by or against its community members. All Bethel community members are directed to implement and abide by the procedures outlined in this policy.
All complaints will be taken seriously and no one who acts in good faith to report sexual misconduct, including third parties (e.g., vendors), will suffer actual or threatened retaliation or reprisal. Complaints of sexual misconduct will be treated in confidence to the extent feasible, given the need to conduct a thorough investigation and take corrective action. If it is determined through an appropriate and prompt investigation that sexual misconduct has occurred, effective corrective action will be taken to eliminate the sexual misconduct, attempt to ensure that it does not recur, and appropriately care for those who may have been harmed. Depending on circumstances and the severity of the conduct, corrective action will vary. Resolution steps could include one or more of the following for students: counseling, advising or coaching from student life or campus ministry professionals, reflection paper, behavioral probation, suspension, dismissal, or expulsion. For employees resolution steps could include one or more of the following: counseling, training, advising or coaching from a professional, verbal or written warning, or termination.
The complete Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedure is available at https://confluence.bethel.edu/display/HR/Sexual+Misconduct+Policy+and+Procedures
Bethel University is also committed to principles that enable the educational and professional enhancement of men and women of all ethnic and racial groups. Bethel seeks to emphasize the importance of being an authentically diverse community in pursuit of growth, awareness, and appreciation of both our own diversity as well as that which exists in the broader world.
Bethel is committed to maintaining a Christ-centered community, free of discrimination, including harassment based on race or ethnicity and all forms of racial intimidation. Accordingly, Bethel will not tolerate racial or ethnic harassment by or of its students, faculty, or staff. To the extent practicable, Bethel will also attempt to protect the Bethel community from harassment based on race or ethnicity by its vendors, consultants, and other third parties who interact with us.
This policy is designed to encourage persons who believe that they have experienced such harassment or have witnessed harassment of another community member to bring the conduct to the attention of appropriate individuals so that Bethel can take prompt corrective action. Bethel will take prompt corrective action against any harassment based on race or ethnicity by or of its students, faculty, or staff. All Bethel community members are directed to abide by this policy.
All complaints will be taken seriously and no one who acts in good faith to report harassment, including third parties (e.g., vendors), will suffer retaliation or reprisal.
This is a policy summary only. The complete Racial and Ethnic Harassment Policy is available at https://confluence.bethel.edu/display/HR/Racial+and+Ethnic+Harassment+Policy.
Cara Wald, the University’s Director of Human of Human Resources, serves as Title IX Coordinator with primary responsibility for oversight and enforcement of this Policy, as well as identifying and addressing any systematic problems that arise during the review of complaints. Cara Wald may be contacted at 651.635.8657 or c-wald@bethel.edu.
Bethel University and the Bethel University Foundation (hereinafter referred to as Bethel) are committed to principles that enable the educational and professional enhancement of men and women of all abilities. Bethel complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the applicable state and local laws prohibiting discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities. Bethel will not tolerate disability discrimination by or against its prospective students, applicants, students, faculty, or staff. All community members must comply with this policy, whether on campus or off campus, when engaged in activities sponsored by Bethel, or otherwise related to Bethel or its business. Such activities include, but are not limited to classes, seminars, meetings, and study abroad programs. In addition, visitors, volunteers, vendors, consultants, third parties, or any person that provides services to Bethel are required to comply with the provisions of this policy.
In accordance with these laws, Bethel provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with documented disabilities. Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to seek admission to the university and apply for employment. Individuals seeking employment must be able to perform the essential functions of a job with or without reasonable accommodations. Bethel desires to promote institutional programs and employment practices that are accessible to all individuals with disabilities.
The Office of Disability Resources and Services (DRS) seeks to meet individual needs by coordinating and implementing internal policy regarding programs, services, and activities for individuals with disabilities. The DRS functions as a source of information and advice and as a communication link among individuals with disabilities, faculty and staff members, and the community at large. Accommodating individuals with disabilities in a mainstreamed environment is the overall objective of the DRS office.
If a prospective student, applicant, student, faculty, or staff member with a disability requires accommodations to benefit from Bethel’s programs, services or activities, he or she should contact the Director of Disability Resources and Services or the Office of Human Resources. DRS receives disability related documentation and handles the approval of requested accommodations. The process of documentation review involves an individual assessment of the individual’s disability with respect to the documentation presented and the accommodations requested. DRS focuses on providing services needed by students, staff, and guests of the university with disabilities to minimize the extent to which their disability affects their opportunities in the Bethel academic environment.
If a member of the Bethel community has a concern or has become aware of an instance of disability discrimination involving a prospective student, applicant, student, faculty member, staff member, or third party, the Section 504 Compliance Officer must be contacted immediately. Bethel will take prompt corrective action against any disability discrimination by or against its community members. Bethel has adopted the following policy and procedures as a basis for community guidance, education, and complaint resolution.
All complaints will be taken seriously and no one who acts in good faith to report disability discrimination, including third parties (e.g., vendors), will suffer actual or threatened retaliation or reprisal. Complaints of discrimination will be treated in confidence to the extent feasible, given the need to conduct 26 a thorough investigation and take corrective action.
If it is determined through an appropriate and prompt investigation that disability discrimination has occurred, effective corrective action will be taken to eliminate the discrimination, attempt to ensure that it does not recur, and appropriately care for those who may have been harmed. Depending on circumstances and the severity of the conduct, corrective action will vary. Resolution steps could include one or more of the following for students: training, advising or coaching from student life or campus ministry professionals, reflection paper, behavioral probation, suspension, dismissal, or expulsion. For employees resolution steps could include one or more of the following: training, advising or coaching from a professional, verbal or written warning, or termination.
The purposes of this policy include:
Prohibiting all forms of discrimination based on disability
Creating and promoting a positive work environment that is free from any form of discrimination
Encouraging good faith complaints when discrimination based on disability has occurred
Providing options for addressing and resolving complaints of disability discrimination.
The complete Disability Discrimination Policy is available at https://confluence.bethel.edu/x/nYmw
Chief Human Resources Officer Title IX Coordinator/Compliance Officer
Cara Wald