Student Handbook

Code of Conduct

The IIRP recognizes the basic rights and responsibilities of the members of the Institute and accepts its obligation to preserve and protect those rights and responsibilities. Further, the Institute must provide for its members the opportunities and protections that best serve the nature of the educational process.

The Code of Conduct governing the behavior of members of the IIRP must ensure the basic rights of individuals, as well as reflect the practical necessities of the community. The Code also must prohibit or limit acts that interfere with the basic purposes, necessities, or processes of the IIRP or with the rights of its members. Finally, the Code must reconcile the principles of maximum freedom and necessary order.

Sanctions

Consistent with the philosophy of restorative practices, the emphasis of the IIRP disciplinary processes is on repairing the harm and restoring the well-being of the educational community. Although sanctions may be appropriate or necessary, violators of the IIRP Code of Conduct will be afforded the opportunity to participate in a restorative process.

Sanctions for violations of the IIRP Code of Conduct may include penalties ranging from warning (written or verbal) to expulsion from the graduate program, but will be tailored to address the circumstances of each offense and ideally decided in conjunction with the offender as part of the process. Ultimately, the administration of the IIRP will be responsible for such sanctions.

The Code of Conduct shall be made public in an appropriate manner and may be revised by the IIRP in consultation with the faculty, students, and staff.

Behaviors Inconsistent with IIRP Values

The Code of Conduct describes behaviors that are inconsistent with the essential values of the IIRP community. Those directly violating the Code of Conduct and those who assist, condone, or who are aware of the violations and do not report them, are engaging in behaviors that contradict the values of the IIRP. Such behaviors include but are not limited to:

1. Physically harming or threatening to harm any person, intentionally or recklessly causing harm to any person, or reasonable apprehension of such harm or creating a condition that endangers the health and safety of self or others.
2. Sexually assaulting or abusing a person. The Institute does not tolerate sexual assault or abuse, such as rape (including acquaintance rape) or other forms of nonconsensual sexual activity.
3. Harassing, stalking, or hazing any person, including sexually harassing.
4. Using, possessing, or storing weapons or fireworks.
5. Tampering with fire or other safety equipment or setting unauthorized fires.
6. Illegally possessing, using, distributing, manufacturing, selling, or being under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
7. Intentionally providing false or inaccurate reports of emergencies or Code violations or knowingly providing false statements during a hearing, disciplinary conference, or to IIRP officials.
8. Stealing, vandalizing, damaging, destroying, or defacing Institute property or property of others.
9. Obstruction or disruption of classes, research projects, or other activities or programs of the Graduate School; or obstructing access to IIRP facilities, property, or programs. Disruption is defined as an action or combination of actions by one or more individuals that unreasonably interferes with, hinders, obstructs, or prevents the operation of the IIRP or infringes on the rights of others to freely participate in its programs and services.
10. Violating the Academic Integrity Policy.
11. Failing to comply with reasonable directives to provide identification or to report to an administrative office or, when reasonable cause exists, failing to leave Institute-controlled premises when directed to do so by properly authorized persons, including police and/or Institute staff.
12. Making, using, or possessing any falsified IIRP document or record; altering or forging any Institute document or record, including identification or access cards. Includes but not limited to: forging (signing another’s name and/or ID number) or manufacturing IDs, altering permits, and misuse of forms (letterhead stationery, IIRP forms).
13. Unauthorized entry into or use of IIRP property or facilities, including classrooms, offices, and other restricted facilities. The IIRP also has the right to control use and entry into facilities for reasons of security, safety, or protection of property. This includes closing facilities at specified times. It should also be recognized that an open or unlocked door is not an invitation to enter and use facilities.
14. Engaging in disorderly, disruptive, lewd, or indecent conduct. Inciting or participating in a riot or group disruption. Failing to leave the scene of a riot or group disruption when instructed by officials. Disorderly conduct may include disruption of programs, classroom activities, or functions and processes of the IIRP. This item covers unreasonable noise, creating a physically hazardous or physically offensive condition.
15. Violating written IIRP policy or regulations contained in any official publications or administrative announcements, including IIRP computer policies; violating IIRP policies and regulations that are contained in official publications, administrative announcements, contracts, and postings.
16. Violating federal, state, or local law if such behavior has impacts on the IIRP community. Criminal or civil decision is not a necessary prerequisite for a disciplinary decision, nor is it necessary that criminal or civil charges be lodged against the student either before or after a disciplinary decision.
17. Misusing or abusing computer resources or other information technologies at the IIRP.

Community Responsibility

Students and employees of the IIRP are members of the academic community. As members of the academic community, they are subject to the rights and obligations that accrue to them by virtue of this membership. Students and employees are expected to be honorable and ethical in every regard and to have consideration for the welfare of others as individuals and for the community as a whole.

In keeping with the Clery Act, as amended by the Campus SaVE (Sexual Violence Elimination) Act in 2013, the IIRP does not suggest that witnesses (bystanders) to violent or potentially violent situations put themselves in jeopardy, but that they do take appropriate steps to keep members of the community safe. Reporting options are available for bystanders as well as victims. Calling the police is usually the best way to intervene if there is a question of safety for anyone. If there is no immediate danger, restorative processes may be utilized to address any concerns for members of the community.

Data Privacy Policy

The IIRP exercises care and prudence in the handling of personal information that we collect through our websites. This policy does not protect external sites linked to or from any iirp.edu website.

Collection of Information

The IIRP collects no personally identifiable information from visitors to our website, unless an individual affirmatively chooses to make such information available to the IIRP. However, our web servers do automatically recognize some non-personal information, such as volume and timing of access, as well as the Internet domain and IP address from which an individual accesses our sites. That information is stored for a maximum of 60 days.

Cookies are small files that are stored on a computer (unless you block them). We use cookies to understand and save visitors’ preferences for future visits and compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interaction so that we can offer better site experiences and tools in the future. We also use cookies to enable certain web services like Single Sign-on. Google and other third parties may use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to collect or receive information from this website and elsewhere on the Internet and use that information to provide measurement services and target ads.

The IIRP collects personal information through online data entry forms. Only information necessary to fulfill an information or other request or application, subscribe to our email lists, process a donation, or fulfill an e-commerce transaction and to notify an individual of order status is collected. The IIRP’s website neither markets to persons who are less than 13 years of age nor knowingly collects personal information online from them. Student information is kept confidential pursuant to federal and state regulations. We will not sell information to commercial entities.

We may also provide a visitor’s information to third parties in circumstances where we believe that doing so is necessary or appropriate to satisfy any applicable law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request; or to detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, security, or technical issues; or protect our rights and safety and the rights and safety of our users or others.

Use of Information

The IIRP uses the information an individual submits to provide them with the product or service requested, consistent with the purpose for which the information was collected. 

If an individual sends us an email, the email address they provide may be used to send information, respond to inquiries, and/or other requests or questions. We will not share, sell, rent, swap, or authorize any third party to use that email address for commercial purposes without the individual’s permission.

The IIRP may also generate summary statistics about the volume, variety, timing, and other characteristics of our web traffic in general, but such statistics do not contain personally identifiable information. For example, we use third parties such as Google Analytics to generate reports on site usage, web traffic, user behavior, and user interests in order to optimize our website for our visitors.

The IIRP will only use collected information to communicate with an individual regarding future offerings or opportunities in which we feel they may be interested if they have opted to receive such communications.

The IIRP does not share, trade, or sell personal information to third parties. The only exception is the sharing of information or the conduct of marketing efforts in conjunction with IIRP international affiliates, with which we have governance and programmatic oversight, and whose goals and mission are consistent with the mission and goals of the IIRP. 

Opt Out

A person may disable cookies through their individual browser options or they can opt out of the collection and use of this information through tools like the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page.

Third Party Vendors

The IIRP works with various third-party services to provide email management and payments. We choose these vendors based on their compliance with applicable privacy laws.

Security

The IIRP follows industry-standard precautions and procedures in the transmission and storage of electronic data. The IIRP and affiliate websites use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption to process secure information. Sensitive credit card information is not permanently stored on any IIRP web server, and although order information is retained for our records, this information is not shared with other companies or persons.

Intellectual Property and Proprietary Rights

Our websites are protected by one or more copyrights, patents, database rights, trademarks, service marks, and/or other intellectual property and proprietary rights that are owned by the IIRP, its affiliates and/or third parties.

Breach Notification

We will notify affected individuals, via email, within 72 hours of first having become aware of a breach of data that is likely to result in a risk for the rights and freedoms of individuals.

Accuracy of Information

All information provided on IIRP websites is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a legal contract between the institution and any other person or entity otherwise specified. Although every reasonable effort is made to present current and accurate information, the IIRP makes no guarantees of any kind.

Grievance Policy and Formal Complaint Process

A grievance is a claim that action has been taken that involves a student or staff or faculty member’s status or the specific terms or conditions of employment or academic study and which is believed to be arbitrary, capricious, or without cause or not consistent with IIRP policies and procedures, or a perceived circumstance of discrimination, harassment, or inequity.

The International Institute for Restorative Practices, consistent with its name and mission, will use restorative processes, whenever possible, in dealing with wrongdoing and conflict among students, staff, faculty, and administration. Restorative processes focus on repairing the harm done by conflict and wrongdoing. They are usually held in a circle format and provide every person with an opportunity to be heard and express feelings in a safe environment.

Restorative processes bring together those who have been affected by an incident. When there are identifiable wrongdoers and victims, all of those individuals have the choice of participating voluntarily. Furthermore, their friends, colleagues, optionally their family members, and others in the institution who have been affected, are also invited to come together to resolve the emotional consequences of the incident and to have a say in how the conflict or wrong might be handled.

If possible, concerns that result in a grievance should first be addressed informally, through informal discussions or a restorative circle. If a solution is reached, it should be put in writing, signed and dated by both parties, and copied to the appropriate administrator.

If, after attempting informal resolution, no solution is reached, the aggrieved party or parties may appeal the issue in writing to an appropriate administrator. That administrator must respond to the grievance within ten working days.

If the aggrieved party is not satisfied with that outcome, they may appeal to the President in writing. The President will respond within ten working days. If the aggrieved party is still not satisfied, the issue may be appealed to the Board of Trustees.

Who to Contact If You Have a Complaint or Grievance

For incidents of Sexual Misconduct – Rape, Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, and Domestic Violence – Call 911.

If you decide to make an official report to the IIRP, a detailed (typed, emailed, or handwritten) statement of the alleged incident(s) should be submitted to the Associate Dean of Administration.

In the case of an alleged violation of the any of the following:

• Equal Opportunity Statement
• Non-Discrimination Statement
• Harassment Policy

The complaint is to be brought to the attention of the Associate Dean of Administration in writing. If the Director is the alleged violator, then the complaint should be brought to the President (same address and phone number as noted below).

Associate Dean of Administration
531 Main Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018-5837

610-807-9221

In the case of an alleged violation of Civil Rights, the complaint may be brought directly to the Office for Civil Rights:

Barbara Holland, Regional Manager, Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
150 S. Independence Mall West
Suite 372, Public Ledger Building
Philadelphia, PA 19106-9111

Customer Response Center: (800) 368-1019 Fax: (202) 619-3818
TDD: (800) 537-7697 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Should you have exhausted all avenues to resolve an issue informally and wish to file an official complaint, that complaint must be submitted in writing to:

Personal Gift Acceptance Policy

Faculty, staff, and trustees of the IIRP Graduate School are asked not to accept or solicit a gift or benefit from vendors, students, or others who may influence or appear to influence the recipient’s decision making. To uphold integrity and transparency, we rely on our community to make informed decisions as to the value of the gift and seek guidance from leadership if the gift is greater than a nominal value. 

Students enrolled in the Graduate School are encouraged to celebrate faculty members with letters, cards, or verbal expressions rather than material gifts.  

Faculty, staff, and trustees may exchange gifts among each other. It is requested that discretion be used when those exchanges occur. 

No-Money-Solicitation Policy

The IIRP has a no-money-solicitation policy with regard to the solicitation by and among faculty, staff, or students to contribute to organizations or purchase raffle tickets, event tickets, cookies, or other types of organizational fundraising in the workplace. We want to avoid uncomfortable situations where employees feel social pressure to participate. With the exception of the IIRP, the IIRP asks its employees and students to keep such solicitation of contributions and purchases outside of the workplace on a private, interpersonal basis.

Photography and Video Recording Policy

The IIRP uses digital photographic images and video recordings to promote the Graduate School and events surrounding the institution in websites, print materials, and social media, in areas around education, publicity, and fundraising.  

All IIRP employees, students, trustees, and attendees of IIRP conferences are advised that the IIRP records digital images and video of members of the campus community throughout the year, which may include in classrooms, in study areas, in offices, and at other IIRP on- and off-campus activities. The IIRP reserves the right to employ these images and videos as a part of its internal and external communications efforts.  

All IIRP employees, students, trustees, and attendees of IIRP conferences are given to understand that their images, names, voices, and likenesses may be included, published, or used in perpetuity in IIRP publications including print, broadcast, social, and/or other electronic media for publicity or marketing purposes, and their employment constitutes consent to such inclusion. Procedures are established so that IIRP employees, students, trustees, and attendees of IIRP conferences can opt out of this arrangement. The Associate Dean of Administration is responsible for these procedures.  

The IIRP will never post images with identifying information such as email address, address, or family members’ names. No special compensation is provided to any individual included in images taken at IIRP events. The IIRP does not contact individuals to notify them if or when their images are used by the IIRP. 

The opt-out procedure can be found here.