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Investigation Procedures

Investigation Procedures

The following procedures shall guide all investigations of complaints alleging violations of this policy. Leighton University reserves the right to depart from these procedures only when such deviation is necessary to ensure appropriate processing of the investigation.

  1. The probe will begin within 10-work days of the receipt of the complaint. Should the Vice President for Student Development be unavailable within the time frame, his/her designee will act instead. If the Vice President for Student Development or his/her designee is involved in the alleged discrimination, the complaint will be investigated by Leighton University's General Counsel.
  2. The Vice President for Student Development, or his/her designee(s), will launch and investigation of the alleged of violations of this policy.
  3. In the instant that the complainant or the respondent is under 18 years of age his/her parent or legal guardian will be informed of the complaint via phone, email or US mail.
  4. The probe includes interviewing the complainant and the respondent, as well as any relevant witnesses suggested by the complainant and the respondent.
  5. The probe should also include interviewing any additional witnesses or reviewing any documents deemed relevant by the Vice President for Student Development or his/her designee(s).
  6. Confidentiality of the probe will be maintained to the extent possible. If a complainant submits a written request for confidentiality or asks that the complaint not be pursued, Leighton will evaluate the request for confidentiality against the following factors: the weightiness of the alleged aggravation, the complainant’s age, whether there have been other harassment complaints about the same individual, and the alleged aggressor.
  7. If witnesses cannot be reached or are not available, the complaint will be probed in their absence.
  8. After all available information is reviewed and interviews are completed, the Vice President for Student Development or his/her designee(s) will:
      • Establish whether an infringement of this policy has occurred, and if so, the appropriate retort.
      • Notify the complainant and the respondent both verbally and in writing of the outcome of the probe within five working days after the completion of the investigation.
      • Make sanctions to the appropriate supervisor regarding discipline, where necessary or warranted.
      • Partner with departments, area to take any corrective action as may be appropriate under the circumstances.
      • All complaints will be adjudged as expeditiously as possible and generally within 30 work days.