Misconduct Policy
Bullying and Harassment
Cambria College is committed to providing an environment that is free from sexual harassment and other types of discriminatory harassment. Employees, students and staff, are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner that is consistent with the Code of Conduct.
Prohibition of Bullying and Other Types of Harassment: It is also against Cambria College’s policy to engage in verbal or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of his or her race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, or other protected category or reason (or that of the individual’s relatives, friends, or associates) that:
- Has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating, or offensive working or learning environment.
- Has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance; or
- Otherwise adversely affects an individual’s employment opportunities or ability to successfully complete their training at Cambria College.
Depending on the circumstances, the following conduct may constitute bullying and discriminatory (or other) harassment:
- Epithets, slurs, negative stereotyping, jokes, or threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts that relate to race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability; and
- Written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility toward an individual or group because of race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability and that is circulated in the workplace, physical or virtual classrooms, public forums (i.e. social media platforms like Facebook) or placed anywhere in Cambria College’s premises such as on an employee or student’s desk or workspace or on Cambria College’s equipment or bulletin boards.
Other conduct may also constitute discriminatory harassment if it falls within the definition of discriminatory harassment set forth above. Bullying includes but is not limited to: verbal aggression or insults, calling of derogatory names, harmful hazing, or initiation practices, vandalizing personal belongings and spreading malicious rumors.
It is also against Cambria College’s policy to retaliate against a student for filing a complaint of bullying or discriminatory (or other) harassment or for cooperating in an investigation of a complaint of discriminatory harassment. Reporting of Harassment: If you believe that you have experienced or witnessed sexual harassment or other discriminatory harassment or bullying by any employee of Cambria College, you should report the incident immediately to the Campus Director (or Acting Campus Director) of the respective location (Victoria Campus – Nina Kanapi nina.kanapi@cambriacollege.ca, Vancouver Campus – Ana Espinoza ana.espinoza@cambriacollege.ca, Surrey Campus – Aali Basant aali.basant@cambriacollege.ca, Richmond Campus – Sohena Sahi sohena.singh@cambriacollege.ca). Possible harassment by others with whom Cambria College has a business relationship, including customers and vendors, should also be reported as soon as possible so that appropriate action can be taken.
Cambria College will promptly and thoroughly investigate all reports of harassment as discreetly and confidentially as practicable. The investigation would generally include a private interview with the person making a report of harassment. It would also generally be necessary to discuss allegations of harassment with the accused individual and others who may have information relevant to the investigation. Cambria College’s goal is to conduct a thorough investigation, to determine whether harassment occurred, and to determine what action to take if it is determined that improper behavior occurred.
If Cambria College determines that a violation of this policy has occurred, it will take appropriate disciplinary action against the offending party, which can include counseling, warnings, suspensions, dismissal, or termination.
Individuals who report violations of this policy and those who cooperate with investigations into alleged violations of this policy will not be subject to retaliation. Upon completion of the investigation, Cambria College will inform the individual who made the complaint of the results of the investigation.
For sexual harassment or misconduct concerns, please refer to the Sexual Misconduct Policy.