Student Mistreatment, Title IX, and Hazing
Student Mistreatment - Promoting a Positive Learning Environment
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine is committed to maintaining an environment in which there is mutual respect among students, teachers, staff and peers. We encourage an atmosphere that is respectful and supportive of every individual regardless of gender, race, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. We strive to promote a learning environment that responds to the needs and recognizes the contributions of individuals. Behavior that is abusive or mistreats students or others in the learning environment is prohibited.
The HMSOM has various policies which prohibit mistreatment of the community, including the Preventing Student Mistreatment and Promoting a Positive Learning Environment Policy.
- Students may elect, but are not required, to bring their concerns directly to the person allegedly responsible for the action or behavior. The matter may be concluded by mutual consent at this point.
- Students may bring their concerns, problems, questions and complaints, without fear of retaliation, to anyone in a supervisory position within the School community, including a faculty member, lab course or clerkship director, residency-training director, School administrator, division chief, department chair/head, Vice, Senior Associate, Associate, Assistant dean and/or dean. The assistance provided may include, but is not limited to counseling, coaching, or direction to other resources at the School.
- Individuals may use whichever method they are most comfortable with to report concerns.
- An individual does not have to be the recipient of the alleged mistreatment or discrimination to report a violation.
- Individuals who observe mistreatment of others are encouraged to report the matter.
File an Internal Complaint:
Concerns may also be reported to any of the resources noted below:
- Anonymously via ComplyLine - the phone/internet-based compliance/event reporting system; 877-888-8030; ComplyLine
- Submit a HMSOM Cares Referral
- Diane Russo, MA; Title IX Coordinator; Diane.Russo@hmhn.org
- Laurie Sullivan, PhD; Sr. Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Wellbeing; Laurie.Sullivan@hmhn.org
- Naomi Ambalu, DO; Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Wellbeing; Naomi.Ambalu@hmhn.org
- Any course/clerkship director, department chair, or supervising faculty member
- Any staff or administrator of the School of Medicine
- Campus security and/or law enforcement
- Report in the course, clerkship or faculty evaluations
- Report related items on the annual program improvement survey
Retaliation Prohibited:
Retaliation against any individual for making a complaint, participating in a review or otherwise engaging in legally protected activities is strictly prohibited. Anyone who is found to have retaliated will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including separation from the School.
False Reports:
Prompt reporting of a concern facilitates a timely review and resolution of the matter. All employees, faculty, staff and students are expected to cooperate and be truthful in the review of allegations of mistreatment. Intentional false or malicious reports of mistreatment by learners will not be tolerated and will be handled as a disciplinary matter.
Mistreatment arises when behavior denigrates the dignity of others and unreasonably interferes with the learning process/environment, whether that behavior is experienced or observed. Mistreatment can take many forms, and includes any behavior that humiliates, degrades, demeans, intimidates, or threatens an individual or a group. A violation of the Preventing Student Mistreatment and Promoting a Positive Learning Environment policy includes behavior that a reasonable person would find it creates inhospitable working or learning conditions.
Examples of Mistreatment:
Physical Mistreatment:
- Physical harm, threat of physical harm, or physical punishment.
Abusive Expression:
- Language that is outside the range of commonly accepted expressions of disagreement or critique in an academic culture.
Power Abuse:
- Inappropriate use of authority, threats, or retaliation in the exercise of authority, supervision, or guidance.
- Includes using learner evaluation, grades, and potential letters of recommendation as quid pro quo for behaviors
- Includes personal services
Psychological Cruelty:
- Malicious behavior that results in psychological pain and suffering.
- Includes public embarrassment/humiliation.
Sexual Harassment:
- Unwelcome sexual advances or conduct.
- Includes offensive remarks, being denied opportunities or lower evaluations.
- (See Title IX Policy & Grievance Procedure)
Discrimination:
- Prejudicial treatment on the basis of a protected characteristic.
- Includes offensive remarks, being denied opportunities or lower evaluations due to characteristics.
- (See Non-Discrimination Policy)
Title IX - What is Title IX?
“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” – Title IX, Education Amendments Act 1972
HMSOM does not discriminate against persons in its admissions, services, programs, activities and/or employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin (including immigration status and English language proficiency), religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, sex stereotyping, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression (including with respect to access to facilities).
HMSOM’s policies and practices are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, including dating and domestic violence, and stalking, as well as retaliation. Such laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Amendments of 2008, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972, and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
In accordance with Title IX regulations, HMSOM has designated Diane E. Russo, M.A., as the School’s Title IX Coordinator. Ms. Russo is responsible for overseeing compliance with the School’s non-discrimination policies and Title IX. Any questions regarding discrimination or Title IX, or reports of violations of Title IX in connection with any programs or activities of the School should be referred to the Title IX Coordinator. Any person may report sex discrimination and/or sexual harassment (including a party, witness/observer, and any other third party) by notifying the Title IX Coordinator, by any available means, as set forth below.
Reports may be made 24/7. Questions about Title IX may also be directed to the Title IX Coordinator, the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, or both.
Title IX Policy and Grievance Procedure
File A Report with ComplyLine: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine provides a confidential channel through which you can ask questions and raise concerns about actual or potential misconduct, violations of the Code of Conduct, policies and procedures, laws and regulations. Once you ask a question or raise a concern on the ComplyLine, via either phone or web, you will receive a report key and password which can be used to follow up on the report. Then an electronic summary of your report or inquiry is sent to the Compliance team for review and to determine further action.
Name: Diane E. Russo, M.A.
Title: Title IX Coordinator
Office Address: 123 Metro Blvd., Room 2623, Nutley, NJ 07110
Office Telephone Number: (862) 660-5124
Email Address: Diane.Russo@hmhn.org
U.S. Department of Education, New Jersey Office of Civil Rights
Washington DC (Metro)
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-1475
Telephone: (202) 453-6020
FAX: (202) 453-6021
TDD: (800) 877-8339
Email: OCR.DC@ed.gov
The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine takes student wellbeing very seriously and asks anyone to confidentially Report a Concern through the following avenues:
- HMH ComplyLine is 877-888-8030 or https://hackensackmeridian.alertline.com/ (Anonymous reporting is available by phone or web); or
- HMSOM Student Mistreatment & Title IX: HMSOMCares Referral
- Title IX Coordinator Diane Russo at Diane.Russo@hmhn.org; or
- Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Wellbeing Laurie Sullivan, PhD at Laurie.Sullivan@hmhn.org; or
- Assistant Dean of Student Affairs & Wellbeing Naomi Ambalu, DO at Naomi.Ambalu@hmhn.org.
The Title IX Coordinator receives ongoing training through the Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA), Title IX Solutions, LLC, and Thompson Coburn, LLC.
ATIXA Trainings and Certifications:
- Title IX Coordinator One and Administrator
- Title IX Advisors
- Title IX for Healthcare Educators and Providers
- Managing Intake, Jurisdiction, and Dismissals Workshop
- NPRiMer: Preparing for the Upcoming Pending Title IX Regulations: Training and Certification Course for Higher Education
- ADA/Section 504 Foundations for Higher Education Certification
Title IX Solutions, LLC
- 2020 Title IX Informal Resolution Facilitation Training
Thompson Coburn, LLC training materials are located here:
- Module 1 – An Introduction to Managing Title IX Sexual Harassment on Campus
- Module 2 – Formal Complaints of Title IX Sexual Harassment
- Module 3 – Title IX Investigations & Informal Resolutions
- Module 4 – Title IX Hearings
- Module 5 – Title IX Determinations
- Module 6 – Title IX Appeals
Title IX Investigators received the following training:
- Cornell University Diversity & Inclusion Certificate
- Report Writing Workshop
- Hearings Day 1 and 2
- Trauma Informed Investigations
- Alternate Resolutions
- Advisor Training
Title IX Informal Resolution Facilitators received the following training:
- Evidence in the Student Conduct Process
- Cross-Examination in a Title IX Hearing
- Effective Interviewing of Parties and Witnesses
- Due Process Part One: Theory and History
- Title IX Agreement-Based Resolutions
Title IX Live Hearing Officials/Decision Makers received the following training:
- Hearings in a Post Regulatory World
Policy Against Hazing
The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine is committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment where all can thrive. Hazing fundamentally undermines our core values and poses significant risks to individual well-being and the overall campus community. Policy Against Hazing.
Hazing: In New Jersey, hazing is a crime (N.J.S.A. 2C:40-3 and following). Under New Jersey law, hazing is a third-degree crime if the hazing results in the death or serious bodily injury of another person. Hazing is a fourth-degree crime if the hazing results in bodily injury to another person. If there is no bodily injury resulting from the hazing, it is a disorderly persons offense. Individuals found guilty of hazing may be subject to criminal penalties, including fines and/or imprisonment. Criminal penalties may be assessed against organizations that knowingly or recklessly promote or facilitate an act of hazing including steep fines.
Student Organization: For purposes of reporting under the Campus Hazing Transparency Report, means an organization at an institution of higher education (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution.
Individuals who believe they have experienced and/or observed conduct that violates the Policy Against Hazing or who have concerns about hazing should immediately report all such matters. Individuals may use whichever method they are most comfortable with to report concerns. The nature and severity of the allegation will determine the process for investigation.
Concerns may be reported as follows:
- Direct reporting to the Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Wellbeing: Laurie.sullivan@hmhn.org
- Direct reporting to the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Wellbeing: Naomi.ambalu@hmhn.org
- Direct Reporting to the Department of Public Safety: 973-542-6600
- Report via HMSOM Cares Referral Form
- Report using the phone/internet-based compliance/event reporting system, ComplyLine: 1-877-888-8030 OR HackensackMedicine.alertline.com/gcs/welcome
- Any staff or administrator of the School of Medicine.
- Complaints alleging violations of the Title IX Policy and Grievance Procedure should be filed with Diane Russo, M.A., Manager, Title IX Coordinator at Diane.Russo@hmhn.org or 862-660-5124
Neither consent of the person being hazed nor any approval or sanctioning of the hazing by an organization or group is a defense to any conduct prohibited by this policy.
Retaliation against an individual who has made a good-faith complaint of hazing or participated in the investigation of a complaint under this policy or the law is prohibited. In addition, any effort to conceal information and/or hinder the investigation of a violation of this policy is strictly prohibited and may result in disciplinary action.
Such conduct may also constitute criminal conduct in New Jersey and may result in additional criminal charges brought by law enforcement. Complaints regarding retaliation will be processed in accordance with the HMH and SOM’s policies on Harassment, Non-Discrimination, and Non-Retaliation/Retribution for Reporting; Conscientious Employee Protection Act.
Suspected retaliation should be reported immediately using the same reporting mechanisms available for hazing incidents. All retaliation complaints will be promptly reviewed and addressed.
HMSOM provides prevention and awareness programs related to hazing that includes a description of research-informed campus-wide prevention programs designed to reach HMSOM students, staff, and faculty, that includes primary prevention strategies intended to stop hazing before hazing occurs, which may include skill building for bystander intervention, information about ethical leadership, and the promotion of strategies for building group cohesion without hazing.
To comply with the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), HMSOM reports hazing incidents in two ways:
- Annual Security Report: This report includes all hazing incidents that were reported to campus security authorities or local police.
- Campus Hazing Transparency Report: This separate report is created when a student organization is found to have violated the Policy Against Hazing. It summarizes the specific findings of the case.
- Please note, the Campus Hazing Transparency Report is not required to be developed or updated unless the School has a finding of a hazing violation.
The Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR), mandated by the Stop Campus Hazing Act, requires colleges to publicly disclose substantiated hazing violations and related details with a final finding on or after July 1, 2025.
- No violations of the SCHA have occurred since July 1, 2025.
Prevent hazing by fostering a culture of respect, responsibility, and positive traditions. If you witness or experience hazing, report it immediately to ensure a safe and inclusive student environment.
Emergency Contacts & Support Services:
- Emergency: 911
- IHSC Public Safety: 973-542-6600
- Assisting Students in Distress
- HMSOM Resources for Students
- Want to Report an Incident?
