Whistleblower Policy
Policy Against Retaliation and for Protection of Whistleblowers
Introduction
Teachers College (or the “College”) is committed to equity and excellence in education bolstered by honest and ethical conduct in the achievement of academic goals. Teachers College strives to operate ethically and lawfully and expects all faculty, trustees, administrators, staff, students, contractors, volunteers and visitors (collectively, the “College Community”) to conduct their activities in accordance with College policies and applicable law.
The College encourages and expects all members of the College Community to report misconduct or activity that causes any danger within the College through supervisors or other established channels. No member of the College Community may interfere with any individual who makes a good faith report of a danger or of apparent or suspected misconduct, and no member of the College may intimidate or retaliate against any member of the College community who makes such a report. This policy outlines the procedures for reporting and addressing concerns of unethical or illegal conduct within the College, and applies to all members of the College Community who have witnessed or reasonably suspect wrongdoing.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to encourage individuals to report suspected illegal, unethical, or fraudulent activities by providing a safe and confidential mechanism for reporting such conduct, without the fear of retaliation, so that the College can address and correct inappropriate conduct and actions. It is essential to the College’s integrity and to the achievement of the College’s academic goals that all individuals feel comfortable raising concerns and reporting wrongdoing without the fear of retaliation.
Reporting Procedure & Confidentiality
Individuals who have witnessed or reasonably suspect any danger or illegal, unethical, or fraudulent activities are encouraged to report their concerns promptly, either verbally or in writing, to their appropriate supervisor, faculty member, department head, to the Office of Public Safety, or the EthicsPoint hotline. The College provides both informal and formal procedures for addressing concerns.
Anyone who witnesses or is the victim of a crime or who is concerned about a health or safety emergency should contact the Office of Public Safety immediately. In situations involving imminent danger, please call 911.
Emergency: (212) 678-3000 (If using a campus phone, dial extension 3333)
Non-emergency:(212) 678-3220
To report any other concerns or for more information about reporting a concern, please visit our Grievance Procedures Policy, or view our Informal Grievance Procedure for Professional Staff.
The College also operates a website and telephone hotline that permit the anonymous reporting of concerns. To make a report, contact EthicsPoint at 888-329-6420 or here.
While other College reporting options are generally not anonymous, the College strives to handle all concerns with privacy and sensitivity and to limit disclosure to the extent consistent with the need to investigate and resolve the matters raised. Therefore, all reports of suspected illegal, unethical, or fraudulent activities will be kept confidential to the extent possible. In some cases, the College may be required to disclose information about the report or investigation to third parties, including law enforcement or government agencies.
Investigation
All reports of suspected illegal, unethical, or fraudulent activities will be promptly and thoroughly investigated, and the investigation, to the extent possible, will be conducted in a manner that protects the privacy of the reporting individual and any individuals involved in the investigation. If the investigation determines that illegal, unethical, or fraudulent activities have occurred, the College will take appropriate disciplinary action, which may include termination of employment or academic expulsion, as well as appropriate reporting to relevant authorities.
Protection against Retaliation
Teachers College prohibits retaliation against individuals who report suspected illegal, unethical, or fraudulent activities in good faith. Retaliation includes harassment, intimidation, discrimination or any other adverse employment, academic or educational consequence as a result of making a report or cooperating with the College investigation. Teachers College will take whatever action is necessary and appropriate to address violations of this policy. Individuals who engage in retaliatory actions against whistleblowers will be subject to discipline, up to and including separation from the College. If an individual believes they have been subject to retaliation, they should report the retaliation immediately through an alternate established channel and/or the anonymous EthicsPoint hotline (888-329-6420) or website.
Acting in Good Faith
It’s important to note that anyone reporting a concern must act in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing that the information disclosed may indicate wrongdoing, a violation of law, or a violation of College policy and/or ethical standards. Any allegations that prove to have been made maliciously or with knowledge of their falsity will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.
Notice
This Policy is posted outside of the Office of the General Counsel in the Zankel building and shall be distributed to all Trustees, officers, faculty, staff, contractors, and volunteers and made generally available to the College Community, as well as publicly online here.
Responsible Office: Vice President for Finance and Operations and Human Resources
Last updated: April 2023