Welcoming and Engaged
Pitt strives to be welcoming and engaged by: (1) cultivating belonging; (2) fostering a welcoming culture; and (3) being an employer of choice. The CIE office supports this mission by examining and providing transparency around potentially troublesome academic and workplace environments.
Investigative Procedure Overview
While specific University policies may guide the procedures followed during an investigation, the CIE Office is driven by a set of core principles. These core principles ensure fairness during the investigative process and include:
- Notice
- An opportunity to be heard at a specific time and in a meaningful way
- A decision supported by evidence that meets the applicable standard of proof
- Notice
Investigations at the University start with written notice to the parties that identifies the concern(s) at issue, the applicable University policies, and procedural safeguards afforded to the parties.
During all inquiries and investigations, the University maintains the confidentiality of witness statements and other forms of evidence to the extent possible. At times it is necessary to discuss some or all of the details of an allegation with faculty, students or staff who have a need to know or who are material witnesses. Faculty, students and staff involved in the investigation process are encouraged to exercise discretion if discussing or sharing information related to any investigation or complaint.
- Opportunity to be Heard
During an investigation, the parties involved are given a meaningful opportunity to present and respond to evidence. This may include providing a written statement, identifying potential witnesses to be contacted, and/or reviewing a summary of information provided to the investigator.
The University applies the preponderance of the evidence standard to its investigations. Under the preponderance standard, the burden of proof is met when there is a greater than 50% chance that the allegation is true.
Parties to an investigation are presumed not responsible unless and until the evidence gathered during the investigation establishes that it is more likely than not that they are responsible for violating University policy.
The University prohibits retaliation against anyone who makes a complaint or otherwise participates in the investigation process. Retaliation is any action, statement, or behavior that is designed to punish an individual for filing a report, cooperating with an investigation, making a compliant, or to deter a person from making a complaint or participating in an investigation. If a University member believes they have been subjected to retaliation, they should submit a report to the Pitt Concern Connection.
- Decision
The investigator will prepare a written report of investigations that: summarizes the investigative procedure; a list of witnesses interviewed and evidence collected; a summary of information provided by witnesses and documentary evidence obtained; an overview of the University policy at issue; and, if permitted by policy, an analysis of the relevant facts in context of the applicable policy.
The report of investigation or inquiry memo will be provided to the appropriate decision-maker. Interventions, remediations, or sanctions will be set by the appropriate School or Office. The Parties are typically notified in writing of the outcome by the responsible office. Due to confidentiality, offices may be unable to share details or specific outcomes with non-parties.
- Investigator Code of Conduct
The University ensures that investigations are conducted by unbiased investigators and are thorough and timely. The Code of Conduct for University Investigators requires that investigators will:
- Conduct investigations in an unbiased, diligent and professional manner.
- Seek to gather all material facts and to report those facts accurately and completely.
- Not permit bias, prejudice, or preconceived opinions to interfere with an investigation.
- Not participate in any investigation in which they have an actual conflict of interest or in which there is an appearance of their having such a conflict.
- Conduct investigations with honesty and integrity. Lying or use of deceit during interviews is prohibited.
- Gather information and evidence in a manner that respects the relevant privacy rights and protects the integrity of that evidence. This includes using public records and safeguarding confidential information.