Code of Conduct Policy

This Code of Conduct Policy (the “Policy”) confirms the right of every Cambrian College (the “College”) community member to a learning and working environment that is free from discrimination and harassment in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code (the “Code”).

The Code of Conduct provides guiding principles in terms of the general standard of conduct the College expects from everyone. It is used to communicate that every community member is expected to contribute to the development of a respectful environment by behaving in acceptable ways and by discouraging offensive behaviour of others. The Policy ensures fairness and consistency in all matters relating to conduct.

This policy applies to everyone in the College Community. It applies to conduct that occurs on College Property, or where College activities or processes are taking place, virtually or otherwise.

Any Community Member found to have violated this Policy is subject to the disciplinary sanctions, regardless of the action or inaction of civil authorities. Nothing in this Policy precludes the College from referring an individual matter to the appropriate law enforcement agency before, during, or after a disciplinary action is taken by the College under this Policy. A Community Member may be subject to criminal prosecution and/or civil proceedings notwithstanding and in addition to, disciplinary action by the College against the Community Member under this Code. Examples of such College related activities may include, but are not limited to the following:

• field placements,
• co-operative education work terms,
• clinical placements,
• off-campus internships,
• community service, College teams travelling to events off-campus,
• students’ association activity off campus or engaged in a club event,
• conference or any event where employees or students represent the College,
• any contract work for the College

College Community: students, staff and visitors of the College.

College Property: any land owned and controlled, or leased, by the College, inclusive of buildings, learning places, public places, and workplaces.

Misconduct: includes behaviour that: disrupts the teaching learning process or interferes with the well-being of other students or employees or causes damage to College Property.

Examples of Misconduct include, but are not limited to, the following:

assault all forms of bullying all forms of discrimination, including contributing to a poisoned environment disruptive, threatening or violent conduct harassment

mobbing sexual assault sexual harassment sexual violence workplace harassment workplace sexual harassment

Reprisal: Any adverse action against anyone for acting in compliance with the Code, for seeking the application of the Code or for participating in a process arising from the Code.

1. The College believes all members of the College Community have the right to study or work in an environment that is safe, secure and supportive, in accordance with the Code. The College treats students as adults who are responsible for conducting themselves in a manner that respects the rights of employees, other students, and College Property.
2. A Code of Conduct offers guidance to the College Community on standards of integrity and conduct. No code can address every situation a person may encounter. As a result, people are expected to be guided by the letter and the spirit of the Code of Conduct, and to exercise good judgment. In circumstances where they are unsure as to the proper course of action:
   1. employees are to seek guidance from their immediate supervisor;
      1. students are to seek guidance of any of the following:
      2. Faculty member
      3. Program coordinator
      4. Chair or Dean
      5. Student advisor
      6. Student government representative.
   2. Contractors are to seek guidance from the Manager who procured their services
   3. Community members are to seek guidance from the President’s office.
3. The College expects all College Community members to foster an environment that reflects the College’s core values of ‘respect’ – to enhance every experience for the greater good – and ‘excellence’ – to drive quality through accountability.
4. The College expects employees to promote and support a respectful, inclusive and safe work environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.
5. Employees are to act with transparency and impartiality to make sound and unbiased decisions in order to avoid any perception of conflict of interest, as per Cambrian’s Conflict of Interest Policy.
6. Nothing in this policy is meant to prevent persons from respectfully expressing their views within an academic context while respecting the law, respecting academic freedom and respecting management, union, employee, student and human rights as per Cambrian’s Statement on Upholding Free Speech, Statement on Academic Freedom and Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy.
7. Nothing in the Policy is meant to conflict with the College’s obligations to its employees under its various collective agreements or employment contracts.
8. Students are subject to disciplinary action up to and including suspension or expulsion from the College if they engage in Misconduct.
9. The College expects employees to act in a professional manner which includes meeting obligations, being truthful, being cooperative with College administration, maintaining integrity in their work and civility in their conduct and communications.
10. Employees are to ensure that their conduct does not jeopardize the good order and proper functioning of College operations.
11. Every member of the College Community is responsible for the proper functioning of the Policy.
12. Every College employee is responsible to report conduct that contravenes the Policy to their supervisor.
13. Every person has the right to communicate concerns related to potential breaches of the Policy without Reprisal or threat of Reprisal.
14. Every person has the responsibility to cooperate in efforts to resolve concerns raised under the Policy and shall have the right to do so without Reprisal or threat of Reprisal.
15. Breaches of College policies by employees, including this Policy, may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination, where applicable.

Associate Vice President Human Resources and Student Services is responsible for:

• Ensuring the development, review and availability of this Policy.

Director, Human Resources is responsible for:

• Advising College administrators regarding the Policy and its processes.
• Assigning a formal investigator (internal or external).
• Assisting supervisors with the implementation of decisions flowing from their accountability under the Policy.
• Reporting to College administrators on matters appropriate to their level of accountability.

Manager, Equity, Human Rights (the “MEHR”) and Accessibility is responsible for:

• Receiving complaints or concerns related to potential breach of the Policy.
• Gathering preliminary information in order to assess a concern brought to the MEHR’s attention.
• Advising members of the College Community about matters related to the application and interpretation of the Code of Conduct.
• Providing education and awareness on matters related to the Policy with students, employees and supervisors.

College Administrators are responsible for:

• Receiving and acting on complaints and concerns from students and employees.
• Receiving and acting on information and advice from the MEHR regarding concerns related to the Policy.
• Ensuring that students and employees cooperate with processes related to the Code of Conduct.
• Holding students, employees and management accountable.

College Staff are responsible for:

• Being familiar and complying with the legislation and regulations that affect how they carry out their duties, including those of other countries when traveling out-of-country on College business.
• Being familiar with the College policies relevant to their responsibilities and conducting themselves in a manner consistent with those policies.

Students are responsible for:

• Being familiar and complying with the requirements of this Policy.