Student Reporting Guidelines

Reporting Unprofessional or Inappropriate Behavior

Sometimes an individual's behavior may not meet the UB policy definitions of discrimination or harassment but still be experienced as unprofessional and/or inappropriate. A student may be harmed by interactions or experiences with an individual who did not intend to injure, harm, or harass them. Students may also witness inappropriate and/or unprofessional behavior. In these situations, SDM recommends students follow any of the following procedures to report these incidents:

Direct Reporting

  1. If you do not feel comfortable addressing the concern directly with the individual, we encourage you to report any incidents to your supervising faculty member or program director.
  2. If you do not feel comfortable addressing the concern with your supervising faculty member or program director, you may contact the Director of Equity, Diversity (EDI) and Inclusion, Dr. Latifa Bairam (lrbairam@buffalo.edu), or a representative of the SDM EDI committee. Student representatives from each class, as well as faculty and staff representatives are prepared to receive concerns/feedback and direct those concerns to the appropriate party1,2. For an updated list of our EDI Committee members, please visit the SDM EDI website.

Anonymous Reporting

  1. If you do not feel comfortable addressing the concern directly, you may share your concern/feedback anonymously via the linked google form. Do NOT enter any patient identifying information beyond what is required in the template fields. Submission of your report indicates agreement to comply with HIPAA regulations. The Director of EDI will review these entries and direct the concern to the appropriate party1,2. 
  2. In situations where you prefer to place an anonymous report in confidence, outside of the School of Dental Medicine, you are encouraged to submit a report via EthicsPoint, a confidential reporting service. Do NOT enter any patient identifying information beyond what is required in the template fields. Submission of your report indicates agreement to comply with HIPAA regulations. Reports will be sent to UB by EthicsPoint anonymously and confidentially. EthicsPoint makes these reports available only to specific individuals within the University who are charged with evaluating the report, based on the type of violation and location of the incident. Each of these report recipients has had training in keeping these reports in the utmost confidence. Visit www.buffalo.ethicspoint.com or call 844-678-0455 for more information.

Reporting Acts of Intolerance

In other situations, a student may be intentionally injured, harmed or harassed through acts of intolerance based on their race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, gender, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, familial status, veteran status, military status, domestic violence victim status or ex-offender status.

We encourage reporting from all students who have experienced or witnessed incidents that intend to injure, harm or harass as outlined on the University Student Life Gateway website.

  • In the case of physical confrontation or injury resulting from a bias-related incident, or threats of physical violence, contact University Police immediately at 716-645-2222.
  • For all other bias-related incidents, call Student Life at 716-645-2982.

Reporting Discrimination and Harassment

The University makes a clear distinction between bias-related incidents prompted by intolerant behaviors and illegal discrimination or discriminatory harassment based on protected factors including but not limited to sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, and veteran status. Matters of discrimination and harassment are handled by the Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion. If you believe you have been discriminated against or harassed based on a factor listed in UB's Discrimination and Harassment Policy, or if you witnessed discrimination or harassment of others, contact the Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, 406 Capen Hall, at 716-645-2266 for an appointment to report an incident. You may call the office anonymously if you would prefer not to give your name. The investigatory process is outlined in full on the EDI website. Learn more about UB's Discrimination and Harassment Policy.

Footnotes

[1] For concerns shared through internal SDM networks (points 1a and 2a above), the Assistant Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion will direct the concern to the appropriate party when confidentiality and other legal obligations require it, including, for example, leadership within the School of Dental Medicine, Human Resources, or the UB Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. For HR related matters, the department chair and HR will meet with the faculty member to address concerns based on their nature and to ensure reporter anonymity. Interventions can range from counseling, targeted training, warning and in some serious situations, discipline including separation.

[2] It is important to note that UB SDM continuously updates trainings, policies, and evaluation mechanisms that uplift student voices and ensures UB SDM is an inclusive and safe space for everyone. We welcome and encourage student feedback that results in equity- and justice-oriented systems and structures.