Zero tolerance for discrimination and harassment

Our association steps forward

I’m proud that our Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) has a new policy that states that we have zero tolerance for discrimination and harassment. As the organization that represents academic public health, our commitment to zero tolerance is important. It also should be a message to any faculty or staff member whose behavior is less than honorable. Zero tolerance means no tolerance.

Drawing attention to one of the statements in the policy:

Universities are among the oldest institutions in human history that have been devoted to understanding and improving the human condition, by promoting student scholarship and engagement with society. As such, universities have a special obligation to address conditions that threaten to erode their values and missions and to negatively impact their climates and cultures.

Kudos to Perry Halkitis, PhD, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health, for his leadership as chair of the ASPPH Committee on Zero Tolerance of Harassment and Discrimination, and to the members of the committee, including Kauline Cipriani, PhD, assistant dean for inclusive excellence at the Gillings School.
Barbara