Respectful Workplace

The University is committed to maintaining a working environment that encourages mutual respect, promotes civil and congenial relationships among faculty and staff, and is free from all forms of harassment and violence.

The following state and University policies aim to promote and ensure a respectful workplace. University faculty and staff are required to complete bi-annual online training on respectful workplace policies.


Equal Employment Opportunity

http://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/hrpolicy/policy.html.

The Commonwealth is committed to providing equal employment for all employees and job applicants, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability and political affiliation. Employment discrimination based on these traits is unlawful under both state and federal law. Equal opportunity extends to all aspects of employment including hiring, transfers, promotions, training, termination, working conditions, compensation, benefits and other terms and conditions of employment. The Commonwealth complies with federal and state equal-employment opportunity laws and strives to keep the workplace free from all forms of unlawful discrimination, including harassment and retaliation.

The Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM)’s Office of Equal Employment Services (OEES) is responsible for enforcing policies concerning equal employment opportunity. This office investigates and resolves complaints of unlawful employment discrimination. If an employee wishes to submit a complaint or allegation, s/he may obtain the needed forms from OEES or from the DHRM web site. Employees may also file complaints under the Grievance Procedure or directly with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.


Statement of Non-Discrimination

At the University of Mary Washington the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action are practiced.  The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, parental status (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit based factors in recruiting, admitting, enrolling students or hiring and promoting faculty and staff members.

Complaints of discrimination should be directed to the AA/EEO officer of the University; contact information is available.

Approved by the University of Mary Washington Board of Visitors
August 25, 2017


Statement of Community Values (ASPIRE)

As a public, liberal arts university, the University of Mary Washington community is dedicated to providing a diverse, accepting, and supportive environment that holds all of its members to the highest standards of conduct, scholarship, integrity, inclusiveness, respect, and engagement. Through a commitment to these values, we strive to transform our academic community into a place where all will learn, thrive, and grow. As faculty, staff, and students of the UMW community, we are committed to upholding these common values:

  • Accountability – we promote practices, behaviors, and attitudes where individuals take responsibility for their actions and decisions.
  • Scholarship – we promote intellectual inquiry by engaging ideas and one another in order to gain better understanding and contribute to knowledge.
  • Personal and Institutional Integrity – we are honorable in our academic and work endeavors as well as our interactions with others.
  • Inclusive Excellence – we strive for all members of the community to have equitable access to opportunities for participation and the resources necessary for success.
  • Respect and Civility – we foster an environment in which every individual is treated with dignity at all times by valuing the inherent worth of all identities, abilities, and differences.
  • Engagement – we develop engaged members of our community who actively participate in the community through responsible leadership and service.

We ASPIRE to live these values and work to support our collective and individual successes.


UMW Principles on Diversity and Inclusion

The University of Mary Washington strives to create a climate of acceptance and will promote the values of diversity and inclusiveness. These values strengthen our community and are essential to our academic mission and institutional excellence.

The University of Mary Washington values diversity in all forms— including diversity of age, culture, disability, economic background, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, opinion, political affiliation, race, religious background, sexual orientation and veteran status.

The University of Mary Washington recognizes its responsibility to be a model of fairness and equal opportunity, providing intellectual and institutional leadership regarding diversity issues and initiatives.

As a public university in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the University of Mary Washington embraces its obligation to provide educational opportunities to broader communities found locally and nationally, and to then reflect the diversity of peoples, backgrounds, and experiences in the student body, faculty, administration and staff.

The University is committed to providing broad administrative, programmatic and academic support to achieve its institutional goals for diversity.

The University seeks to prepare students from all backgrounds and identities to live, work and thrive in a global society.

The University seeks to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment of mutual respect for students, faculty, staff and community, internally and externally, of all backgrounds and identities.

The University of Mary Washington recognizes that the adoption of this Statement is the responsibility of the entire University community. To ensure the successful implementation of the statement, the University is committed to a system of responsibility, accountability, and recognition for all faculty, staff, and students that carries out the institutional values on diversity and inclusion and all related goals and objectives.

Approved by the University of Mary Washington Board of Visitors
February 19, 2011


Consensual Relations

Although consensual relationships between persons of different power levels (e.g., between a faculty member and a student or between a supervisor and an employee) do not constitute sexual harassment, they raise serious concerns and may give rise to claims of sexual harassment. The University’s policies and additional information regarding consensual relations are available at Consensual Relationships Policy.


Related Resources

Bias Incident Report Form