Professional Ethics at my Workplace
Our college has a policy in place for all employees to follow during their time at the college. It seems this is being constantly reviewed and updated more than ever these days as new situations arise in the world and at our campus. With a multitude of new students arriving each month, the code of conduct is used to not only protect workers and students, but also be somewhat a warning that situations may happen that you may not be ready for.
Camosun strives to provide clear, transparent, and easily accessible policies that exemplify the college's commitment to life-changing learning. The college has recently initiated a review and renewal of policy and we invite the college community to engage in this important work.
Camosun College is working together with students, faculty, and staff across our campuses to develop a new Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy. We invite the college community to come together and engage in our processes over the next few months to help develop this important policy by May 2017. (http://camosun.ca/about/policies/)
Students are also given given clear policies to follow and are protected within the community by the Ombudsman. The Ombuds office is a place where Camosun students can go for help in dealing with conflicts or disputes on an informal basis. The office is independent, impartial and confidential. (http://camosun.ca/about/ombudsman/services.html)
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Recently our college was in the news with an instructor who allegedly did not follow protocol. What exactly happened is still not being released to protect the student and help with the investigation. Stories such as these are a reminder to be aware that we are constantly being watched by students and faculty.
Camosun instructor resigns after probe into alleged misconduct on trip
KATIE DEROSA / TIMES COLONIST DECEMBER 23, 2016 12:01 AM
A full-time instructor in Camosun College’s nursing department has resigned following an investigation into alleged misconduct during a school trip to the Philippines. The college started the investigation of Stephen Bishop after receiving complaints from nursing students following a five-week school trip between April and June. Few details have been released about the allegations. Bishop declined to comment when contacted by the Times Colonist on Thursday. “I’m not prepared to speak with anyone right now,” he said. An automatic reply on his work email advised people to contact him on his personal email or on his cellphone.
Joan Yates, vice-president of student experience for the college, confirmed that the third-party investigation has been completed. She said the college has “taken the appropriate internal measures,” but would not disclose what those measures are, citing confidentiality in personnel matters.
It’s unclear whether the investigation found any wrongdoing. Yates would say only that “Camosun College takes the safety of our students very seriously.”
Darlaine Jantzen, chairwoman of the nursing department, said she was unable to comment as she is not privy to the results of the investigation. Students with information about the incident were asked to sign a consent form to indicate what they might be willing to share as part of the investigation, Yates said.
“They were certainly notified, those that have been involved, that the confidentiality element is important to the process,” she said last month.
Camosun nursing students have been visiting the Philippines Nursing Field School for eight years. The trips allow students to engage in clinical practice in local hospitals, meeting practicum requirements while gaining international experience.
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Editorial: Camosun College should explain
KATIE DEROSA / TIMES COLONIST DECEMBER 27, 2016 12:33 AM
Camosun College should explain what sparked complaints about the conduct of an instructor in the college’s nursing program and the instructor’s subsequent resignation. The administration’s secrecy leaves a dark cloud hanging over everyone involved.
The college started an investigation of Stephen Bishop after receiving complaints from nursing students who participated in a five-week practicum trip to the Philippines last spring. Few details were released about the allegations.
Joan Yates, Camosun’s vice-president of student experience, confirmed that the third-party investigation has been completed and that the college has “taken the appropriate internal measures.” She would not disclose what those measures are, citing confidentiality in personnel matters. It is not clear if the investigation found any wrongdoing.
Yates said students who shared information used in the investigation were told “that the confidentiality element is important to the process.” Bishop, too, refused to comment.
Camosun nursing students have been visiting the Philippines Nursing Field School for eight years. The trips allow students to engage in clinical practice in local hospitals, meeting practicum requirements while gaining international experience.
It’s a good opportunity for the students to gain experience and to observe what health care is like in another culture, but it takes them far out of reach of the college’s safety net. They would presumably rely on the instructor for their well-being and guidance. That puts the instructor in an important position of trust.
It is not enough to say this is a personnel matter, something to be kept between employer and employee. Camosun is a publicly owned and publicly funded institution; in essence, the public is the employer in this case.
The cloak of confidentiality leaves the issue wide open to speculation as to the nature of the complaints. The misconduct could range from minor violations of college policies or procedures to much more serious matters. If the internal investigation has concluded, then the results should be made known.
To leave it hanging is unfair to the students and to Bishop, and undermines the credibility of Camosun College.