Whistleblower Policy

Applies to: Faculty, Staff, Students

Responsible Office: Office of the President and Dean

A. Introduction

Mitchell Hamline School of Law (the “law school”) expects its employees to perform their duties in alignment with our mission, vision, and values, and in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and law school policy and procedures. When we discover actions or behaviors that conflict with these standards we encourage faculty, staff, or students to make a good faith report of observed or suspected misconduct or noncompliance with law or law school policy or procedure because such disclosures are vital to the well-being of the entire community. Retaliation against a person who makes such a report of a violation or suspected violation, or who participates in the fact finding, is prohibited.

Any member of the Mitchell Hamline community found to have violated this policy may be subject to corrective action.

B. Definitions

1. Under this policy, misconduct or noncompliance includes:
   1. Violation or suspected violation of state and/or federal laws and regulations
   2. a serious violation of law school policy
   3. the use of law school property, resources, or authority for personal gain or other non-law school related purposes except as allowed under law school practices
2. A Good Faith Disclosure is an allegation of misconduct or noncompliance made by an individual who reasonably believes that misconduct or noncompliance may have occurred. Such a belief is reasonable if a reasonable person in the whistleblower’s position would hold such a belief, based on the facts.
3. Retaliation means any adverse action against an individual because they have made a disclosure or has participated in an investigation involving a reported disclosure

C. Reporting Procedure

If a student, faculty member or staff member suspects or believes that they have observed misconduct by a student, faculty member, staff member or any other person whom the student, faculty member or staff member encounters in the course of employment or education, the individual is encouraged to immediately report the conduct as follows:

1. Conduct by Students: To the President and Dean, the Vice Dean of Administration, or the Dean of Students.
2. Conduct by Faculty and Staff: To the President and Dean, Human Resources, or any member of the member of the President and Dean’s Senior Leadership Team. Complaints of observed or suspected misconduct involving the President and Dean should immediately be reported to an Officer of the Board of Trustees.
3. Another means of reporting a concern to a person listed above is to complete a Whistleblower Report Form, which may be submitted anonymously to Human Resources, Vice President of Finance, or the President and Dean by sending or submitting a sealed envelope addressed to the appropriate person at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, 875 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105. However, it should be understood that any investigation may be hampered or be impracticable if the Reporting Person cannot be identified and questioned about the incident and related facts.
4. Communications made to persons other than those specified in this section are not “reports” under this policy, and thus might or might not be acted upon by the law school.
5. Any person receiving a verbal or written report pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs 1-3 above, must immediately forward the report, as follows:
   1. If the report alleges misconduct by a student, to the Vice Dean of Administration or the Dean of Students.
   2. If the report alleges misconduct by a faculty or staff member, to Human Resources or the President and Dean.
   3. If the report alleges misconduct involving the President and Dean, to an Officer of the Board of Trustees.

D. Complaints of Retaliation

Retaliation directed towards anyone who makes a report of observed or suspected misconduct or who participates in the investigation of a report is prohibited. The Reporting Procedure described above should also be used if an employee believes they have been subjected to retaliation.

E. Investigation of Report

Every report of observed or suspected misconduct made to any individual listed above will be promptly investigated by the Dean or the Dean’s designee.

F. Questions

Please direct any questions to the appropriate office: for Staff – Any member of the President’s and Dean’s Senior Leadership Team, or Human Resources; for faculty – President and Dean, Vice Dean of Administration, or Human Resources; for Students – President and Dean, Vice Dean of Administration, or Dean of Students.