Mistreatment Guidelines and Procedures

Purpose

Our program provides multiple mechanisms for students to report mistreatment and uses aggregated data to support a respectful educational environment. The purpose of these guidelines is to: 1) provide guidance for students to report mistreatment they have experienced or observed; 2) inform students about how we monitor and respond to reports of mistreatment.

Definition

Mistreatment arises when behavior shows disrespect for the dignity of others and unreasonably interferes with the learning process. It can take the form of discrimination based on disability, race, religion, ethnicity, sex, age or sexual orientation. Additional examples include, but are not limited to, sexual harassment, psychological cruelty, physical punishment, belittlement, hostility, microaggressions, insults, demeaning interactions or other adverse behaviors.

Principles

All members of our educational community have the right to teach and learn in a respectful educational environment. The UCSF PRIDE Values, UCSF Principles of Community, and the SFSU Core Values provide guidance for the program’s reporting and monitoring of mistreatment.

Please be aware that deans, faculty, and staff are legally mandated to report sex-based discrimination, sexual harassment, and/or sexual violence. Confidentiality is not guaranteed if the issues meet Title IX requirements for reporting. 

To Report Mistreatment

Option 1: Engage in direct communication

If appropriate, start by addressing the issue with the individual(s) involved. If you are uncomfortable or not certain about your options, seek guidance from another instructor, course director, faculty advisor, or trusted faculty member.

Option 2: Anonymous, confidential reporting through RESPECT FOR ALL

If you would like to confidentially report an incident, please use the RESPECT FOR ALL Qualtrics form. Putting your name on the RESPECT FOR ALL form is optional. These reports are immediately sent to the Associate Director, who reviews the reports and determines next steps in consultation with the leadership team. Incidents determined to be serious/egregious are addressed immediately. Reports involving Title IX or Title VII issues are forwarded to the appropriate UCSF or SFSU office.

Option 3: Consultation with the DPT Associate Director

You may discuss concerns directly with the Associate Director by emailing Theresa Jaramillo at [email protected]. She can offer guidance, support, and tailored resources while facilitating next steps. Confidentiality is not guaranteed if the issues meet Title IX requirements for reporting.

Option 4: Direct University Reporting

If you are unsure if you want to pursue processes that may result in mandated reporting, consider exploring these additional resources:

 

How does the program monitor mistreatment?

  1. Review of aggregated data on real-time feedback (RESPECT FOR ALL, concerns on course evaluations, townhalls). The Associate Program Director will meet with the relevant faculty/staff/clinical instructor (CI) to review the data and develop an intervention and remediation plan. The Associate Program Director may also meet with the course director or Site Coordinator of Clinical Education (SCCE).
  2. The Graduation Questionnaire (GQ survey) is administered at the end of the program. This externally developed questionnaire is used by many DPT programs across the country and asks graduating students about: 1) frequency with which they experienced mistreatment; 2) knowledge of their program's mistreatment policy and reporting mechanisms; and 3) frequency with which students reported incidents of mistreatment and if they did not report mistreatment, the reasons why they did not. This allows the program to compare against national benchmarks.
  3. The Associate Program Director and Learner Success Committee present a Student Mistreatment Summary Report to the faculty annually. This is a summary of mistreatment concerns from course evaluations, RESPECT FOR ALL reports, and the GQ survey. If a course/clinical experience has consistent issues, the Associate Program Director will meet with the course director/CI and appropriate stakeholders to develop a remediation plan.