2.D.2 Ethics, Complaints, and Grievances
The institution advocates, subscribes to, and exemplifies high ethical standards in its management and operations, including in its dealings with the public, NWCCU, and external organizations, including the fair and equitable treatment of students, faculty, administrators, staff, and other stakeholders and constituencies. The institution ensures that complaints and grievances are addressed in a fair, equitable, and timely manner.
UAF is dedicated to ensuring fair and equal access to its students, employees, and broader community by upholding the highest ethical standards in its interactions with the NWCCU and other external organizations. The outlines unacceptable behaviors, including conflicts of interest and abuse of power. In addition, all university employees are required to adhere to Alaska state law, including the and , which impose stricter standards than those set by the UA BoR.
The Financial Aid Office maintains the Student Consumer Information webpage that serves as a central guide to sources of consumer information and disclosures required under the .
The Office of Research Integrity (ORI) maintains and enforces policies on the proper execution of research at the university, in compliance with guidelines from federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This office oversees faculty boards that regulate research and teaching involving human participants, animal subjects and their use, biosafety involving the use of recombinant or synthetic DNA/RNA, artificial gene transfer, infectious agents, biologically derived toxins, and other biohazards. Further, the ORI provides guidance on compliance to UAF researchers associated with export controls, research ethics, and land-use permits. The university also follows in relation to outside activities, intellectual property, and the use of university resources. Employees are expected to disclose and obtain approval for outside activities, which are subject to annual review to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure alignment with university responsibilities.
guides complaint and grievance policies and processes for faculty, staff, and student employees. Collective bargaining agreements for unionized full-time faculty, adjuncts, graduate student employees, and staff also outline specific complaint and grievance procedures. ensures that student complaints are addressed in a fair and timely manner, with an annual report compiled for university leadership. The Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability (ORCA), which reports to the UAF chancellor, ensures institutional adherence to federal mandates and oversees Title VII, Title VI, Title IX, Clery Act, Americans With Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act compliance, fostering a safe and equally accessible campus environment. Because ORCA serves as a single point of contact for matters involving civil rights violations, student behavioral intervention, and crisis management, a menu of quick links is located on the opening page of the ORCA website. ORCA also provides plain-language explanations of the processes for civil rights grievances, student conduct matters, student conduct appeals, and academic and grade appeals. The provides a direct link to , which includes , , , and . Information about the complaint process is also published in the , which is cross-linked with the and ORCA website. Per the , to ensure complaints are addressed in a fair, equitable, and timely manner, the university compiles an annual list of formal student complaints, final decisions, and the length of time from submission to resolution. The list is submitted annually for review by leadership.
The responsibility for conducting civil rights investigations is held by ORCA, which maintains a staff of qualified investigators who receive regular training. Investigation procedures are designed to ensure that parties are well apprised of their rights and support options. Investigations of unlawful discriminatory practices are governed by . Investigations of sexual harassment, as defined by Title IX regulation, are governed by . ORCA also provides training to campus partners to help recognize and report potential violations. ORCA also provides training and prevention development opportunities, which include optional trainings, such as Green Dot Bystander Intervention, ADA and Accessibility, and Protection of Minors. is required annually for all students and UAF employees.
The UA System encourages and provides a that serves as a platform for raising concerns related to risks that could impact UA鈥檚 financial health, safety, or reputation, should someone feel uncomfortable with the regular venues for expressing concerns. Available to external community members as well as all employees and provided by the UA System, is an anonymous third-party service that allows individuals to report violations of UA BoR policies, university regulations or procedures, any applicable federal, state, borough, or city violations, and any other regulations that may apply to university programs. The University Police Department (UPD) also operates anonymous reporting portals on the UPD website.