If you are unsure whether a behavior rises to the level of mistreatment, you are encouraged to contact Diana Martínez, Director (confidential reporter) or Emma Naliboff Pettit, Assistant Director (confidential reporter), in the Learning Environment Office, for a confidential discussion.
505.272.7861
To learn more about how we handle mistreatment cases and learn about what does and does not constitute mistreatment, check out each section below.
University policy is that no person shall be subject to retaliation for using or participating in a complaint process. State and federal laws and University policy protect against retaliation for reporting mistreatment, harassment, and/or discrimination. University policy further prohibits retaliation against a person for filing a complaint, participating in the investigation of a complaint' or assisting others who raised a complaint.
Click here to read UNM School of Medicine's Learner Mistreatment Policy document [PDF]
Once the Learning Environment Office receives a report of mistreatment, the report is reviewed and triaged by the Office.
If the report is discrimination or harassment against protected classes*, it is sent to the UNM Office of Equal Opportunity, per UNM policy. UNM OEO maintains confidentiality to the extent allowable by law and UNM policy.
*protected class = those personal traits or characteristics, statuses, and/or beliefs that are defined by applicable law and policy, as protected from discrimination or harassment including age, ancestry, color, ethnicity, gender, gender identity (including gender expression), genetic information, national origin, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, race, religion, serious medical condition, sex, sexual orientation, spousal affiliation, and veteran status.
If not sent to OEO, the report is investigated by the Learning Environment Office and classified using the Stanford Mistreatment Response Pyramid.
The Stanford Pyramid classifies mistreatment issues into four levels of action, based on the number of reports received about mistreatment concerning the same person or the severity of the mistreatment incident:
Mistreatment reports that rise to level 3 or 4 are sent to the Mistreatment Response Committee, a small committee comprised of senior leaders, for investigation, review, and recommendation of action. When severe or egregious issues take place even as a first violation, they may be escalated to a higher level.
When no mistreatment is identified, learner coaching takes place.
Mistreatment is behavior that shows disrespect for the dignity of another person AND interferes with their learning process. This means that receiving critical feedback is not mistreatment, but being told that you’re stupid and useless during a feedback session is mistreatment. Mistreatment can look like: verbal abuse; public humiliation; discrimination; offensive comments based on gender, sex, race, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, etc; neglect or being left out of educational opportunities; and more. If you’re not sure if the behavior you’ve experienced or witnessed is mistreatment, please reach out to us! We’re happy to talk with you about it.
LEO will make two determinations:
(A) Can LEO substantiate that this incident happened (more likely than not)
-AND-
(B) Was this mistreatment?
For more information on what a Level 1 or Level 2 mistreatment incident means for you, click the follow links to download our Fact Sheets.
Remember that all actions, including feedback, improvement plans, or any disciplinary actions come from your supervisor, not from LEO. LEO is responsible for collecting and substantiating reports, managing data and tracking trends, and ensuring that response is consistent across the entire SOM. LEO has no authority or power to take action, which is the responsibility of supervisors. Thus, it is them, never LEO, who will provide feedback, establish improvement plans, engage disciplinary pathways, or any other responses to substantiated incidents.
Phone
505.272.7867
Physical Address
Reginald Heber Fitz Hall
Rm 106
Mailing Address
MSC08 4716
915 Camino de Salud
Albuquerque, NM 87131
