Mistreatment, Misconduct & Safety

All graduate students have a right to a safe, respectful working environment free of harassment. Students also have a right to an ethically responsible scientific environment, and as UNC scientists they have a responsibility to conduct their own science ethically. The links below point to UNC policies governing ethical and professional behavior relevant to biomedical graduate students, as well as options for reporting policy violations. Click here to access all UNC Policies.

David McDonald is available for consultation if you are unsure about how to handle a specific situation or whether it constitutes a policy violation.

Mistreatment

UNC Biomedical Research Environment Reporting: The UNC SOM is committed to a positive working environment that is conducive to learning. Mistreatment can include speaking insultingly, belittling, threatening, attacking, retaliating, and other behaviors.

Discrimination & Harassment

UNC-CH Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct

safe.unc.edu: UNC’s portal for information and reporting incidences of discrimination, harassment, interpersonal violence, and stalking.
File a report: more information about reporting options including anonymous support. Most individuals employed by UNC to whom a student might choose to make a report are considered Responsible Employees and must report these incidences to the Title IX office. This helps the university coordinate a response. Anonymous reporting options are described here.
Gender Violence Services Coordinators: confidential support staff in the UNC Women’s Center (the GVSC are not responsible employees and can keep conversations confidential)

Accessibility

UNC-CH Policy on ADA Reasonable Accommodations

Safety

The Carolina Ready Safety App for Apple and Android devices has great tools and information for you to safely work at UNC. You can have a friend watch your progress across campus, set automatic check-ins, report a tip, or call for help.

Campus Police: If you feel unsafe contact the campus police (919-962-8100) right away and report the incident. If it is an emergency, you can dial 911.

UNC Point to Point: after-hours transportation options

Violence & Abuse

Compass Center for Women and Families (*confidential)
This off-campus resource provides confidential bilingual (English and Spanish) services for individuals and their friends/family who are experiencing emotional, physical, verbal, economic, or sexual abuse from an intimate partner or family member. Services include crisis counseling, safety planning, help with protective orders, support in civil and criminal DV court, support groups, and information and referrals Also provides information, referrals, and support groups. Services are provided to people of all races, classes, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations and gender identities. You can call their 24-hour hotline at 919-929-7122.

UNC Gender Violence Services Coordinators (*confidential)

Cassidy Johnson, 919-962-1343
Holly Lovern, 919-962-7430
Email: gvsc@unc.edu
Hours: Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm

Orange County Rape Crisis Center (*confidential)

This off-campus center supports the community with a bilingual (English and Spanish) 24-hour crisis intervention service that provides support and assistance to survivors of sexual assault and adult survivors of child sexual abuse, their families, and friends. Information and referrals concerning law enforcement, medical, and legal processes can also be accessed through the hotline. Support groups are available throughout the year for female-identified, male-identified, LGBTQ-identified, and secondary survivors of sexual violence. Programs on sexual assault awareness and prevention are also provided. You can call their 24-hour hotline at 866-935-4783.

Research Misconduct

UNC has policies against violations of research ethics and integrity, including mishandling of data, materials, financial resources, and laboratory animals.

UNC-CH Policy on Research Misconduct [pdf]

Report any Policy Violation: scroll down the page to select the type of concern you are reporting.

Additional Resources

UNC Ombuds: a confidential resource for all UNC-CH students, faculty, and staff. The Ombuds office can offer advice, coach individuals on responding to a situation, mediate conflicts, and more. Contacting the Ombuds office is not necessarily at ‘last resort’. It can be a first step, a place to get advice. Their resources page contains many helpful links on conflict resolution. You can also find a brochure about their office here.