Student Support and Resources

Student Handbook

Student Mistreatment and Title IX

Promoting a Positive Learning Environment

Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine is committed to maintaining an environment in which there is mutual respect among students, teachers, staff and peers. We encourage an atmosphere that is respectful and supportive of every individual regardless of gender, race, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. We strive to promote a learning environment that responds to the needs and recognizes the contributions of individuals. Behavior that is abusive or mistreats students or others in the learning environment is prohibited.

The HMSOM has various policies which prohibit mistreatment of the community, including the Preventing Student Mistreatment and Promoting a Positive Learning Environment (https://hmh-som.policystat.com/policy/10112274/latest#autoid-54kww)

Procedures for Reporting Concerns:

Individuals may use whichever method they are most comfortable with to report concerns.
An individual does not have to be the recipient of the alleged mistreatment or discrimination to report a violation.
Individuals who observe mistreatment of others are encouraged to report the matter.

Pre-Complaint Resolution Strategies

Students may elect, but are not required, to bring their concerns directly to the person allegedly responsible for the action or behavior. The matter may be concluded by mutual consent at this point.
Students may bring their concerns, problems, questions and complaints, without fear of retaliation, to anyone in a supervisory position within the School community, including a faculty member, lab course or clerkship director, residency-training director, School administrator, division chief, department chair/head, Vice, Senior Associate, Associate, Assistant dean and/or dean. The assistance provided may include, but is not limited to counseling, coaching, or direction to other resources at the School.

File an Internal Complaint:

Concerns may also be reported to any of the resources noted below:

Anonymously via ComplyLine - the phone/internet-based compliance/event reporting system; 877-888-8030; ComplyLine
Email to HMSOMConcerns@hmhn.org
Diane Russo, MA; Title IX Coordinator; Diane.Russo@hmhn.org
Laurie Sullivan, PhD; Sr. Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Wellbeing; Laurie.Sullivan@hmhn.org
Naomi Ambalu, DO; Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Wellbeing; Naomi.Ambalu@hmhn.org
Any course/clerkship director, department chair, or supervising faculty member
Any staff or administrator of the School of Medicine
Campus security and/or law enforcement
Report in the course, clerkship or faculty evaluations
Report related items on the annual program improvement survey

Retaliation Prohibited:

Retaliation against any individual for making a complaint, participating in a review or otherwise engaging in legally protected activities is strictly prohibited. Anyone who is found to have retaliated will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including separation from the School.

False Reports:

Prompt reporting of a concern facilitates a timely review and resolution of the matter. All employees, faculty, staff and students are expected to cooperate and be truthful in the review of allegations of mistreatment. Intentional false or malicious reports of mistreatment by learners will not be tolerated and will be handled as a disciplinary matter.

References to Related Policies:

Non-Retaliation/Retribution for Reporting; Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) - https://hmh.policystat.com/policy/11386567/latest
Preventing Student Mistreatment and Promoting a Positive Learning Environment - https://hmh-som.policystat.com/policy/10112274/latest
Title IX Policy and Grievance Procedure -
https://hmh-som.policystat.com/policy/9451679/latest

What is Title IX?

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” – Title IX, Education Amendments Act 1972

HMH ComplyLine

The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine takes student wellbeing very seriously and asks anyone to confidentially Report a Concern through the following avenues:

HMH ComplyLine is 877-888-8030 or https://hackensackmeridian.alertline.com/ (Anonymous reporting is available by phone or web); or
HMSOM Student Mistreatment & Title IX: HMSOMConcerns@hmhn.org
Title IX Coordinator Diane Russo at Diane.Russo@hmhn.org; or
Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Wellbeing Laurie Sullivan, PhD at Laurie.Sullivan@hmhn.org; or
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs & Wellbeing Naomi Ambalu, DO at Naomi.Ambalu@hmhn.org.

HMSOM Title IX Coordinator and Contact Information:

Name: Diane E. Russo, M.A.
Title: Title IX Coordinator
Office Address: 123 Metro Blvd., Room 2623, Nutley, NJ 07110
Office Telephone Number: (862) 660-5124
Email Address: HMSOMConcerns@hmhn.org

U.S. Department of Education New York Office Office of Civil Rights
32 Old Slip, 26th Floor New York, New York 10005-2500
Telephone: (646) 428-3800
FAX: (646) 428-3848
TDD: (800) 877-8339
Email: OCR.NEWYORK@ed.gov

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Newark Area Office
Two Gateway Center Suite 1703 283-299
Market Street Newark, NJ 07102
Telephone: (800) 669-4000
https://publicportal.eeoc.gov/portal/
Website: www.eeoc.gov

New Jersey Division on Civil Rights
31 Clinton Street Newark, New Jersey 07102
Telephone: (973) 648-2700
FAX: (973) 648-4405

HMSOM Statement on Nondiscrimination and Title IX

HMSOM does not discriminate against persons in its admissions, services, programs, activities and/or employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin (including immigration status and English language proficiency), religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, sex stereotyping, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression (including with respect to access to facilities).

HMSOM’s policies and practices are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, including dating and domestic violence, and stalking, as well as retaliation. Such laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Amendments of 2008, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972, and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.

In accordance with Title IX regulations, HMSOM has designated Diane E. Russo, M.A., as the School’s Title IX Coordinator. Ms. Russo is responsible for overseeing compliance with the School’s non-discrimination policies and Title IX. Any questions regarding discrimination or Title IX, or reports of violations of Title IX in connection with any programs or activities of the School should be referred to the Title IX Coordinator. Any person may report sex discrimination and/or sexual harassment (including a party, witness/observer, and any other third party) by notifying the Title IX Coordinator, by any available means, as set forth below.

Reports may be made 24/7. Questions about Title IX may also be directed to the Title IX Coordinator, the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, or both.

Title IX Policy and Grievance Procedure

Non-Discrimination Policy

File A Report with ComplyLine: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine provides a confidential channel through which you can ask questions and raise concerns about actual or potential misconduct, violations of the Code of Conduct, policies and procedures, laws and regulations. Once you ask a question or raise a concern on the ComplyLine, via either phone or web, you will receive a report key and password which can be used to follow up on the report. Then an electronic summary of your report or inquiry is sent to the Compliance team for review and to determine further action.

Title IX Personnel Training

Title IX Coordinators receive ongoing training through the Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA) as well as Thompson Coburn, LLC.

ATIXA Trainings and Certifications:

Title IX Coordinator One and Administrator
Title IX Advisors
Title IX for Healthcare Educators and Providers
Managing Intake, Jurisdiction, and Dismissals Workshop
NPRiMer: Preparing for the Upcoming Pending Title IX Regulations: Training and Certification Course for Higher Education
ADA/Section 504 Foundations for Higher Education Certification

Thompson Coburn, LLC training materials are located here:

Additional Resources:

News:

Title IX Investigators received the following training:

Cornell University Diversity & Inclusion Certificate
Report Writing Workshop
Hearings Day 1 and 2
Trauma Informed Investigations
Alternate Resolutions
Advisor Training

Title IX Informal Resolution Facilitators received the following training:

Evidence in the Student Conduct Process
Cross-Examination in a Title IX Hearing
Effective Interviewing of Parties and Witnesses
Due Process Part One: Theory and History
Title IX Agreement-Based Resolutions

Title IX Live Hearing Officials/Decision Makers received the following training:

Hearings in a Post Regulatory World

Student Mistreatment and Title IX