[Faculty Handbook Category #1]
St. Olaf College is committed to maintaining a fair, respectful, and inclusive environment in which all members of its community feel safe and can participate fully and grow. College faculty, staff, and students are expected to abide by the Faculty Handbook, Staff Handbook, and/or Student Code of Conduct at all times.
St. Olaf faculty and staff involved in NSF-funded off-campus experiences – defined as data/information/samples being collected off-campus or off-site, such as fieldwork and research activities on vessels and aircraft – are expected to create a project-specific safety plan specific to that research that describes how the following types of behavior will be addressed.
Expected Behavior. The following is expected of all participants:
- Be kind, considerate, and respectful of all participants, acknowledging a diversity of experiences, views, and opinions.
- Communicate openly and with respect for others.
- Respect the laws, rules, and policies of the off-campus venues and any guidelines created by trip leaders.
- Comply with the Faculty Handbook, Staff Handbook, or Student Code of Conduct, as applicable.
Prohibited Behavior. The following behavior is prohibited and will not be tolerated:
- Discrimination, harassment, and all forms of sexual misconduct. Relevant definitions of these terms can be found in the Faculty Handbook, Staff Handbook, and Student Code of Conduct.
- Physical or verbal abuse of any participant.
- Behavior that is hazardous to the safety of any participant.
- Behavior otherwise prohibited by the Faculty Handbook, Staff Handbook, or Student Code of Conduct, as applicable.
Participants who engage in prohibited behavior may be asked to leave the trip and subject to disciplinary action consistent with the procedures described in the relevant college handbook.
Safety Planning. All faculty and staff leaders should engage in safety planning prior to the start of a trip, which should include:
- Conducting a risk assessment of the trip and destination and thinking through steps to mitigate risks, keeping in mind special risks that may be present for people of certain identities. The college’s travel insurance provider may be helpful in conducting this assessment.
- Drafting protocols to mitigate identified risks and procedures for documenting incidents when away.
- Drafting safety tips for all participants specific to the trip and destination.
- Sharing identified risks, safety tips, and other protocols with participants prior to leaving, ideally in a meeting so that each can be part of a discussion among group members.
- Sharing St. Olaf policies related to protection against and reporting of misconduct, such as the Policy Prohibiting Unlawful Discrimination and Harassment, the Policy Prohibiting Sexual Harassment, and Title IX.
Reporting. Participants are encouraged to speak with a faculty or staff member or other trusted person if they feel physically unsafe or at risk, whatever the reason, or experience or observe any of the prohibited behaviors listed above. Report a Title IX concern here.
If a participant experiences or observes harassment or sexual misconduct, they are encouraged to speak with another member of the trip or to the police or other civil authority where they are located.* Trip leaders can be helpful in locating local medical, legal, and safety resources. When in a foreign country, the US Embassy may also be helpful in identifying local resources. It is the participant’s decision whether to report an incident, and reporting can happen at any time.
In addition to local resources, participants may always make use of campus and national resources, including those listed below.
St. Olaf Confidential Resources
St. Olaf Non-Confidential Resources/To Report Sexual Misconduct to the College
- Public Safety
- Any member of the Dean’s Council
- Title IX Coordinator
- VP for Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Title IX Team Members
External Resources
- National Sexual Assault Hotline
- Elizabeth Freeman Center – 866-401-2425
- Additional resources are listed on the college’s Title IX website.
To Report Other Misconduct to the College
- Public Safety
- Any member of the Dean’s Council
To Report Sexual Assault or Other Illegal Activity to the U.S. Police – Call 911.
Information about available options and processes following a report to the College can befound in the Faculty Handbook, Staff Handbook, and Student Handbook.
*Note that almost all St. Olaf College faculty and staff need to make a Required Referral, which means that if you share information about sexual misconduct, they are required by law to report it to the college’s Title IX Coordinator.
Revised December 2023