Harassment, Bias, and Discrimination

The Situation
Catherine Young had taught media and technology in the teacher education program at her university for l0 years. Having completed a master's degree, she had been hired on the basis of her excellent reputation as a media coordinator in a nearby school district. At the time she Joined the university, more emphasis was placed upon excellence in teaching than demonstrating research and scholarly ability through the completion of a doctoral program. As a result, she had been appointed at the rank of assistant professor, received excellent evaluations over the years, and had been granted tenure.

However, with the hiring of a new president at the university, things were beginning to change. A strong emphasis was being placed on having a doctoral degree. It was becoming evident to Catherine that, under the current circumstances, promotion to a higher academic rank would be virtually impossible. Indeed, she had already detected that faculty members who did not have doctoral degrees were not treated with as much respect and consideration as those who did.

It was, therefore, with considerable excitement that she received approval of her application for a sabbatical leave to pursue doctoral studies at a nearby university. Although she was in resident as a graduate student during the week, on weekends she would often return to her home. While there, she usually dropped by her office at the university and picked up some books and materials from her personal collection that would be useful in her course work. She was excited about the progress that she was making and looking forward to the time when she would have the necessary academic credentials to fit more comfortably into the university community.

One weekend, as she arrived at her office, she found that her key would not fit the lock. Because no one was around, she called campus security only to be informed that the lock on the door had been changed. Confused and upset, she called her department head only to be informed, matter-of-factly, "Oh, we needed the space so we packed your things in boxes and moved them to another building. You can pick up a key from the departmental secretary next week."

Discussion

The AECT Code of Ethics—Section l, Principle 9
In fulfilling obligations to the individual, the member shall refrain from any behavior that would be judged to be discriminatory, harassing, insensitive, or offensive and, thus, is in conflict with valuing and promoting each individual's integrity, rights, and opportunity within a diverse profession and society.