SECTION II: Policies and Procedures for all Students
Guidelines to Assure a Professional and Respectful Learning Environment
University of Rochester Medical Center ICARE Values: Link to section
The University of Rochester Medical Center’s (URMC) culture is steeped in its values – Integrity, Inclusion, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence (ICARE).
These values apply to all members of the URMC community – faculty, students, and staff – in all missions of the medical center: education, research, clinical care, and community. A respectful and professional learning environment is an essential reflection of our ICARE values.
Learning Environment Link to section
The URMC learning environment is committed to facilitating students’ and trainees’ acquisition of the professional and collegial attitudes necessary for effective, successful careers in research, teaching, and clinical care. The development and nurturing of these attitudes are enhanced and are based on the presence of mutual respect among all members of our learning community.
Characteristics of this mutual respect include the expectation that all participants in an educational program assume their responsibilities in a manner that enriches the quality of the learning process, supports a spirit of inquiry and values the diversity of opinion.
Members of our learning community include all individuals educated in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and postdoctoral programs at the University and the medical center, as well as those learners from other institutions training at URMC. Faculty includes all faculty, employed and volunteer, who participate in the education of learners and contribute to the learning environment. Staff includes all employed staff or volunteers at the University of Rochester.
URMC expects and requires learners, faculty, and staff to conduct themselves professionally and respectfully while participating in any activity related to URMC. Inappropriate behavior that negatively impacts URMC’s professional and respectful learning environment is prohibited.
Inappropriate behavior includes but is not limited to sexual harassment; any discrimination or harassment based on age, color, disability, domestic violence status, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by law; humiliation; verbal, psychological or physical punishment; and/or the use of grading and other forms of assessment in a punitive manner. The intentional or unintentional occurrence of such behavior results in a disruption of the spirit of learning and a breach of the integrity and trust among and between learners, faculty, and staff.
All concerns or complaints regarding inappropriate behavior, either witnessed or experienced, should be reported to designated officers or offices in the School of Nursing or the School of Medicine and Dentistry’s Undergraduate Medical Education, Graduate Medical Education, Graduate Education, and Postdoctoral Affairs, or Eastman Institute of Oral Health. Each area is charged with taking appropriate steps consistent with its program’s processes and procedures to thoroughly review and address the reported concern.
Expectations and Responsibilities for All Learners, Faculty and Staff Link to section
Non-discrimination and non-harassment: To treat others and be treated consistent with the institution’s commitment to maintaining a workplace and academic environment free from unlawful discrimination and harassment.
Collegiality: To cultivate and enjoy a welcoming environment in which to pursue research, clinical care, teaching, and professional activities.
Respect: To be valued as an essential member of the URMC community and to treat all others with respect.
Conflicts of interest: To receive appropriate instruction about conflicts of interest to avoid situations where learners and educators are unable to do their jobs with the appropriate level of impartiality.
Policies: To be educated about and know how to access the University of Rochester, medical center, hospital, and program-specific policies, including, but not limited to, grievance processes and disciplinary processes.
Procedures: To receive and be aware of guidelines, policies, and resources to report concerns about the learning environment or behaviors of other learners, faculty, or staff, including but not limited to reporting concerns regarding harassment or discrimination.
Feedback: To be provided formative and summative information on performance at regular intervals as well as ad hoc, when necessary, consistent with the program’s procedures, to provide clear guidance and expectations on performance. Additionally, provide feedback to all in a productive, prompt manner as required by educational or institutional expectations.
Design of instruction: To ensure equal access for learners with diverse backgrounds and abilities to curricula, courses, learning activities, and academic support services.
Assessment: To ensure valid and equitable measurement of learning through appropriate measurement instruments.
Confidentiality and Due Process: To ensure that identity is protected to the greatest extent possible and due process is received for any complaint or concern, as required by University policy and legal requirements.