Work Environment and Behaviors
Northwestern University is committed to creating a welcoming, respectful, accessible, safe, and inclusive environment for all members of its community. An inclusive workforce and environment increases effectiveness and efficiency in the way we work and learn, promotes the development of new ideas, and enhances the University's ability to continue to be innovative in an increasingly complex, competitive, and diverse world.
As a member of the Northwestern community, if you have knowledge of an action taken by an employee of the University that conflicts with or is in violation of policies, you must act on that knowledge and contact the proper University office.
- Civility and Mutual Respect
- Unacceptable Behaviors
- Discrimination and Harassment (see Staff Handbook)
- Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct (see Staff Handbook)
Civility and Mutual Respect
Our community includes staff, faculty, and students, who all value and are expected to treat each other with mutual respect and consideration, recognizing that disagreement and informed debate are valued in an academic community.
When someone's conduct varies from this expectation, it will be addressed. For guidance on identifying potential threatening or violent behavior and for the best ways to deal with these incidents, contact Human Resources.
Get additional guidance on civility and violence.
Unacceptable Behaviors
Demeaning, intimidating, threatening, bullying, or violent behaviors that affect the ability to learn, work, or live in the University environment depart from the standard for civility and respect. These behaviors have no place in the academic community. Additional information about how unacceptable behaviors are addressed may be found in the Staff Handbook.
Violence
Violence is behavior that causes harm to a person or damage to property, or causes fear for one's safety or the safety of others. Examples of violent behavior include physical contact that is harmful and expression of intent to cause physical harm. Such behavior is unacceptable in the Northwestern community.
Preventing Violence
- Weapons: Weapons of any kind, including any toy or facsimile of a weapon, are prohibited on campus except for those carried by sworn police officers or University authorized security officers. Individuals licensed for concealed carry under Illinois statutes are still prohibited from carrying weapons on Northwestern University property. For permission to use prop weapons in theatrical productions on campus, contact University Police.
- Orders of protection: Northwestern community members who have obtained restraining or personal protection orders are encouraged to provide a copy of the order to University Police for enforcement on campus, and may provide a copy of the order to Human Resources.
- Crime logs:
- Disclosure of Convictions: All individuals applying for positions, including internal candidates, are required to disclose felony conviction information as part of the hiring process. Falsification of information as part of the application process is grounds for denial or termination of employment.
Violations
A community member who displays inappropriate conduct is subject to disciplinary action up to and including separation of the offending party from the University, consistent with Northwestern University disciplinary procedures.
Consequences
Where it relates to existing employees, the following situations are subject to corrective action, up to and including termination of employment:
- A criminal conviction, discovered at any time during employment
- Current inclusion in the Office of Inspector General (OIG) List, General Services Administration (GSA)
- List, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFA C) List, or Sexual Offender Registry, and
- Failure to obtain and maintain required licensure and/or certification.
Employees have an ongoing obligation to inform their supervisors if they are convicted of a crime, added to any sexual offender registry, if their license or certification to practice expires, is suspended or revoked, or they are excluded, suspended, debarred, or otherwise ineligible to participate in federal programs. Supervisors, in turn, should notify Human Resources in such instances.
Registered sex offenders who are employed by the University are required by law to also register with the Northwestern University Police Department.
Visitors
Visitors, vendors, contractors, and the families of members of the community are required to display appropriate conduct at all times. Noncompliant behavior will lead to removal from the campus.