Investigation of alleged code of conduct violation concluded
Last week, we advised that we were investigating an allegation of a potential code of conduct violation by a part-time instructor. These matters are normally dealt with between the parties concerned and are not released publicly; however, this matter took a unique course so requires a unique response, including notification of the Mount community.
Though the instructor submitted his resignation, we committed to completing our investigation in keeping with our responsibility to our students and to equitable university protocols. We’ve now completed that investigation and the outcome is the dismissal of the part-time instructor for confirmed code of conduct violations.
It is important to clarify that what constituted a breach of the part-time faculty code of conduct was the non-disclosure of a relationship with a student, which resulted in academic bias. While information was brought forward by one other student through the course of our investigation, no additional breaches of the code were identified.
As always, we remain committed to fostering an environment that is supportive of all members of the Mount community.
A Message from Ramona Lumpkin, President and Vice-Chancellor
January 8, 2015
We wanted you to know about recent reports regarding an allegation of a potential code of conduct violation by a part-time instructor. Based on what we know currently, this situation involves one student and one part-time instructor.
To protect the student involved and in keeping with the process outlined in the collective agreement, these matters are normally dealt with between the parties concerned and are not discussed publicly. However, as soon as we were aware that this situation was being made public, we felt it important to make you aware.
We are taking this matter very seriously and are responding accordingly, including notifying students and letting them know that the instructor is not currently in the classroom, pending an investigation.
We are sensitive to protecting and supporting the student who has made this allegation and we are providing whatever supports needed.
We also have a process under the collective agreement that we are legally obligated to follow, so we are not able to provide any further information at this time.
Ramona