Complaint Process

When the University receives any allegations of misconduct, qualified personnel will conduct a fair, timely, thorough, and impartial investigation that provides all parties appropriate due process and reaches reasonable conclusions based on the evidence collected. All complaints of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation reported to management will receive a timely response.

All complaints of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation reported to management will be treated with as much confidentiality as possible, consistent with the need to conduct an adequate investigation. Complaints will be documented and tracked for reasonable progress, and to ensure timely closures.

Upon completion of an investigation, the University will assess appropriate options and take appropriate remedial actions and resolutions. The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) may also investigate and process complaints of misconduct. Violators are subject to penalties and remedial measures that may include sanctions, fines, injunctions, reinstatement, back pay, and damages. The address of the local office of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing offices can be found at the following website: http://www.dfeh.ca.gov/.

The University prohibits any Employee or non-Employee from hindering internal investigations and the internal complaint procedure. Prohibited conduct of this nature includes, but is not limited to: providing untruthful information in support of or in opposition to a complaint made pursuant to this Policy, making threats against persons being interviewed in an investigation and attempting to induce persons being interviewed to provide false or misleading information, or to withhold material information.

Employees and non-Employees may be assured that they will not be penalized in any way for reporting misconduct. It is unlawful for an employer to retaliate against employees or non-Employees who oppose the practices prohibited by the University’s policy or applicable law, or file complaints, or otherwise participate in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing conducted by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, or the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Similarly, the University prohibits Employees and non-Employees from hindering its own internal investigations and internal complaint procedure.

If management finds that an Employee or non-Employee has violated the University’s policy, appropriate remedial measures shall be taken.