In compliance with the University of Washington (UW) Policies, the Department of Biostatistics expects members of our community to actively create and maintain an atmosphere in which personal respect and intellectual growth are valued and the free expression and exchange of ideas are encouraged for all. Consistent with this expectation, it is the policy of the UW Department of Biostatistics that all persons in the Department enjoy a welcoming environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. We strive to be a community that welcomes and supports people of all backgrounds and identities. This includes but is not limited to members of any race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, immigration status, social and economic class, educational level, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, size, family status, political beliefs, religious beliefs, and mental and physical ability.

All persons—including but not limited to students, staff, faculty, affiliates, guests, and visitors—agree to comply with the UW Biostatistics Conduct Policy.

Expected Behavior

• Model and support the norms of professional respect necessary to promote the conditions for healthy exchange of scientific ideas.
• Speak and conduct yourself professionally; treat everyone fairly and respectfully.
• Be conscious of power differentials between different members of the Department (e.g., students and faculty, staff and faculty, and junior faculty and senior faculty)—noting that fear of retaliation from those with more power can make it difficult for those with less power to express discomfort, rebuff unwelcome advances, and report violations of the conduct policy.
• Be sensitive to differences in what is acceptable behavior between individuals and perceptions in the community (e.g., a hug for saying hello is very/more/less/not acceptable for some nationalities/cultures).
• Be sensitive to and react on the cautionary side when receiving verbal or non-verbal signals and respond respectfully.
• Be an active bystander intervener: educate yourself and others to safely diffuse problem behaviors before they escalate or to stop potential incidents.

Unacceptable Behavior

• Violent threats or language directed against another person.
• Discriminatory, demeaning or objectifying jokes, comments, and language.
• Inclusion of unnecessary sexually explicit, violent, or otherwise sensitive materials in presentations, speech or verbal communications.
• Posting (or threatening to post), without permission, other people’s identifying information online, including on social networking sites.
• Personal insults including, but not limited to, those using racist, sexist, homophobic, or xenophobic terms.
• Unwelcome advances, commentary or physical contact.
• Advocating for, encouraging, or dismissing any of the above behaviors.

Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior

The Department of Biostatistics does not condone unprofessional behavior, and those who violate the department’s Professional Conduct Policy may be subject to departmental corrective or disciplinary action. In addition, any member of the University community who engages in behavior in violation of the University of Washington policies (see Executive Orders No. 31 Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action, No. 51 Sexual Violence Elimination Policy, Chapter 478-121 WAC of the Student  Conduct  Code for  the University of Washington) is subject to corrective or disciplinary action including but not limited to termination of employment, termination from educational programs, or termination of any non-employment relationship.

What to Do and Where to Go if You Witness or Are Subject to Unacceptable Behavior

The University of Washington established that concerning, harassing, threatening and/or violent behavior should be reported to Safe Campus. Call 206-685-SAFE or e-mail Safe Campus at safecamp@uw.edu to talk with one of their specialists (see also the intranet for additional resources). In an emergency, call 911 and the UW Police Department will provide emergency response to violent incidents and direct threats of harm.

If you witness potential harm to a member of our departmental community, be proactive in safely helping to mitigate or avoid that harm; if you see or hear something that concerns you, please, say something. Members of our community may seek counsel from within the supervisory chain of command, that is, contact the department chair for faculty issues, the department administrator for staff issues, the graduate program director for student issues or one of the offices responsible for addressing conduct in violation of UW policies. Specifically, avenues to raise concerns include but are not limited to the following: 

1.  Informal and collegial one-on-one resolution; 
2.  bringing the issue to a supervisor/advisor or the next highest individual of authority, if the concerns involve the supervisor/advisor; 
3.  following applicable grievance procedures under collective bargaining agreements; 
4.  contacting Human Resources or Academic Human Resources; 
5.  contacting the Civil Rights Investigation Office; 
6.  contacting the University Title IX office; 
7.  contacting the University of Washington Ombud. 

If you are unsure where to start or whether or not you need to report, start with the office of the Ombud or Safe Campus. Finally, we note that Presidential Order No. 31 “prohibits retaliation against any individual who reports concerns regarding discrimination or harassment, or who cooperates with or participates in any investigation of allegations of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation (…), or any individual who is perceived to have engaged in any of these actions."

This Code of Conduct may be revised at any time by the Department of Biostatistics. The above code of conduct has been adapted from the meeting conduct policies developed by the American Statistical Association (ASA) and UW Medicine.

Professionalism Values

1.  Cultivate a community of  respect.
2.  Adhere to and promote the highest level of integrity.
3.  Promote equity, diversity and inclusion in the department and in the community.
4.  Foster an environment free of the misuse of real or perceived positions of power.

Additional Links

•  UW Student Conduct Code (For Students)
• Standard of Conduct (For Faculty)
• HR Policies (Staff/Faculty)