Complaints Policy

On behalf of the Ombudsperson:

As a representative of your affiliated club, it is imperative to know that the Ombudsperson, according to Bylaw 2 of the Engineering Society:

• Receives complaints, feedback, opinions, ideas and haikus about EngSoc (and its affiliated clubs).
• Acts as a whistleblowing option to members with concerns.
• Mediates conflicts among members of EngSoc.

But most importantly, according to the Policy on Complaints; the Ombudsperson investigates complaints about Project Directors, members of Project Directors' teams, or members of an Affiliated Club acting in an official capacity for the club.

Section 0.3.7 of the Policy on Affiliated Clubs states that affiliated clubs must make the Society's Policy on Complaints easily accessible to their members.

Who can you complain about?: Officers, Project Directors (and members of their team), Board of Directors members, Affiliated Clubs members

Reasons for complaints: Harassment, sexual violence, defamation, slander, or a failure to do their job

Or violations of the University of Toronto Code of Student Conduct or Standards of Affiliation according to the Policy on Affiliated Clubs

Can they be anonymous: Unless your identity as the complainant is necessary for the complaint, yes.

Complaints must include: Sufficient detail to begin an investigation.

Possible Response:

• No action (lack of proof / actions not considered misconduct / actions happened outside the time period of their role)
• Offer to mediate a solution
• A factual recommendation report is created which is executed according to the voting of the relevant executive body (typically Club Affiliation Committee / Board of Directors) with care taken for privacy. The investigator cannot take any executive action on their own accord.

Possible Recommendations:

• Recall subject of complaint from their position.
• Take steps under the Policy on Affiliated Clubs, section 0.9.
• Mandate additional training.
• Require subject of complaint to issue an official apology.
• Escalate matter to campus police.
• Escalate matter to governmental law enforcement.
• Escalate matter to the Office of the Faculty Dean.
• Escalate matter to the Division of Student Life.
• Escalate matter to the Office of the University Provost.
• Amend EngSoc Bylaws and/or Policies.
• Take some other specific action, with additional justification for such an extraordinary recommendation.
• Any combination of the above.