Procedure for Reporting Ethics Violations

Any member of the medical school community who believes a student has engaged in an ethics violation should report the violation through the mechanisms outlined below. Thresholds for reporting should be low (ie. a report should be made even if an individual is unsure a violation has occurred)

1. Medical school community member who witnessed an alleged ethics violation should contact the chair of the medical student Peer Review Committee (PRC) ([email protected]) or the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs (Michael Kim, MD at [email protected]) who can contact the PRC.
2. The PRC contacts the accuser, solicits response from the accused, and recommends actions [PRC Procedural Guidelines] that may include:
   
   • Unsubstantiated accusation, no referral
   • Refer to Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
   • Refer to Committee on Student Scholastic Standing (COSSS).

Confidentiality: The medical school is committed to protecting a student’s right to privacy. However, given the medical school’s and the University’s obligation to responsive action, it may not be possible to guarantee confidentiality. Reporting individuals may choose to withdraw from the process. However, the medical school reserves the right to continue its investigation where
there may be potential violations of law or University policy, where the alleged incident is of sufficient seriousness that it raises concerns of imminent safety or security, compliance with Title IX mandated reporting, or resulting from a court order.

Policies that Inform Ethics Violations:

The following policies, available on the Medical Student Policies webpage, are considered when investigating ethics violations

• Statement of Intellectual Responsibility
• University of Minnesota Student Conduct Code
• University of Minnesota Compact for Teaching and Learning
• Student Assessment Security
• Social Media Policy for Students, Residents & Fellows in the Health Sciences

Educational opportunities and requirements:

• Peer Review Committee (PRC) will receive training by the Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office
• Course directors, faculty teachers and medical students will be notified of the process and policy annually.

Statement on Reporting to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action:

If you believe you have been subject to any of the following, individuals are required to make a report to the Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office, in addition to any reporting to the PRC.

• Discrimination, Nepotism, or related Retaliation
• Sexual Misconduct

Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office Phone: 612-624-9547
Online Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office Reporting