Members | Committee Charter

Committee on Human Rights Charter
(Amended 9/93; 5/99; 9/99)

a. Charter.

1. Membership. Confirmed by the President of the University:
   (a) Three members appointed by the governing body of the faculty, currently the Faculty Senate;
   (b) Three members appointed by the governing body of the students, currently for the purposes of this committee, the UISG;
   (c) Three members appointed by the governing body of the staff, currently the Staff Council.
2. Charge to the Committee.
   (a) The Committee shall be governed by the terms of the General Charter.
   (b) In the performance of its duties, the Committee shall be guided by I-2.8(12)b which declares general University policy in this area.
   (c) In addition, the Committee shall:
   (i) Advise on the formulation and review of University policies and procedures regarding federal and state laws and Regential orders against discrimination among persons within or doing business with the University;
   (ii) Advise on establishing and coordinating educational programs in the area of equal human rights;
   (iii) Where no other grievance procedure exists, receive complaints of alleged violations of human rights by individuals or agencies within or related to the University, and after appropriate investigation either serve as mediator in such disputes or recommend appropriate action within the University, guided by the statement of functions and procedures in I-2.8(12)c and d.
   (iv) Advise appropriate University officials as to desirable changes in University policies and procedures affecting human rights.
3. Guideline. The work of this Committee does not supplant the affirmative action efforts of other committees and offices within the University.

b. Human Rights Policy.

The University of Iowa brings together in common pursuit of its educational goals persons of many nations, races, and creeds. The University is guided by the precepts that in no aspect of its programs shall there be differences in the treatment of persons because of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification that deprives the person of consideration as an individual, and that equal opportunity and access to facilities shall be available to all. Among the classifications that deprive the person of consideration as an individual are those based on associational preference. These principles are expected to be observed in the internal policies and practices of the University: specifically in the admission, housing, and education of students; in policies governing programs of extracurricular life and activities; and in the employment of faculty and staff personnel. The University shall work cooperatively with the community in furthering these principles.

c. Functions.

1. To hear complaints of discrimination in violation of the University policy on Human Rights and to investigate such complaints with full rights of being heard extended to all parties concerned.
2. By fact finding and education to work toward eliminating discrimination against members of the University community. The Committee may use the services of the Vice President for Student Services and Dean of Students and the Dean's staff in this endeavor.
3. To encourage extracurricular education in this field.
4. To work on request with interested groups on the campus and similar groups in the city and state.
5. To provide appropriate recognition for outstanding achievements in promoting human relations and the protection of human rights.
6. In its deliberations the Committee must protect the right of organized social groups within the University to select their own members upon the basis of their individual merits as persons. The Committee on Human Rights shall also diligently protect the rights of householders to select individual tenants as such provided that there shall be no discrimination because of race, color, creed, or national origin.

d. Fair Housing Practices.

It is and shall be the firm policy of the University that householders shall rent to all students on the basis of their individual merits as persons without exclusion or discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. University facilities shall not be used to give notice of available housing when contents of the notice, or practices or policies of the householder are at variance with this policy.

e. Complaints of Discrimination.

To ensure the adequate protection of the rights of all parties, the following procedures shall be followed for the filing, investigating, and hearing of complaints involving discrimination. The Committee on Human Rights will receive and investigate complaints involving violations of the Fair Housing Policy. The Committee will, upon a finding of a violation, undertake conciliatory and educational activities toward its elimination.

1. Any student or staff member of the University shall have standing to complain that a bona fide application for rental of an apartment or room in Iowa City, Iowa, or environs has been denied principally because of race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. In order to be considered, a complaint must be made within sixty days after the alleged discriminatory refusal to rent.
2. Such complaints shall be addressed to the Chairperson, Committee on Human Rights, The University of Iowa. All complaints shall be in writing and signed by the complainant. A complaint shall contain a statement of the facts upon which the complaint is based, name and address of the householder involved and the names and addresses of the witnesses, if any, who are able to verify the facts stated in the complaint. Upon request of a complainant, the Chairperson shall designate, from a list on file with the Committee, a person to assist the complainant in drafting the complaint.
3. Within two days after receiving the complaint, the Chairperson shall refer and deliver the complaint to one of a panel of referees selected by the Committee. The referee to whom the complaint has been referred, within one day after receiving the complaint, shall mail to the householder, by certified mail, a copy of the complaint, a copy of these rules, and notice of a time and place for conference with the complainant and the referee. At the same time, the referee shall send to the complainant, by certified mail, a copy of these rules and notice of the time and place for conference. The time for the conference shall not be less than five nor more than seven days after mailing of notices to the complainant and the householder.
4. At the referee's conference, the parties, together with such professional or nonprofessional counselors as they may desire, shall present such relevant evidence and argument as they may desire and may offer the evidence of third parties. Only the referee, the complainant, the householder, their counselors, and their witnesses shall be present at the conference. The conference shall be informal, the referee making such rulings as are necessary for reasonable orderliness and relevance of presentation. The referee shall be fully empowered to question the parties and their witnesses and otherwise to seek the facts.
5. Within three days after conclusion of the conference, the referee shall:
   (a) Make a written determination, based solely on the evidence submitted at the conference, of whether or not the complainant has standing to complain and, if so, whether or not the householder has refused to rent to the complainant principally because of the complainant's race, color, creed, or national origin, with reasons for such determination; and
   (b) Mail, by certified mail, to the householder and the complainant, a copy of the determination.
6. If the referee determines that the complainant has standing to complain and that such discriminatory refusal to rent has occurred, the householder shall have two days after receipt of a copy of the determination in which to mail to the Chairperson, by certified mail, a request for a hearing before the Committee in order to contest the determination. If the referee determines either that the complainant does not have standing to complain or that such discriminatory refusal to rent has not occurred, the complainant shall have two days after receipt of a copy of the determination in which to mail to the Chairperson, by certified mail, a request for a hearing before the Committee in order to contest the determination.
7. If the householder does not request a hearing within such time, the Committee, within five days after a copy of the referee's determination of discriminatory refusal to rent has been mailed to the householder, shall decide what action should be taken against the householder, make a recommendation in accordance with its decision and mail to the householder, by certified mail, a copy of such recommendation.
8. If the householder or complainant requests a hearing within the time permitted, the Chairperson shall set a time for hearing the complaint. The time set for hearing shall be within ten days after the request for a hearing has been received. Notice of the time and place of the meeting shall be sent by certified mail to both the complainant and the householder at least seven days before the date of the hearing. Notices to both parties shall contain a statement that they may be represented by counsel.
9. The hearing shall be held by the Committee on Human Rights at the time and place stated in the notices.
10. At the hearing, formal rules of evidence need not be followed and the Committee shall make such rulings as to order of proceedings as shall seem best under the circumstances.
11. The complainant and the householder, both personally and by counsel, and the members of the Committee shall have the right to call, confront, examine, and cross-examine all witnesses. All testimony will be under oath or affirmation to tell the truth.
12. The complainant and the householder shall have the obligation of having present at the hearing any witnesses upon whom they wish to rely.
13. The referee shall not testify at the hearing except as to prior statements of the parties or their witnesses which are inconsistent with the statements at the hearing. Nor shall the referee participate in the deliberations of the Committee. The referee's determination and reasons shall not be considered by the Committee. The Committee makes its own determination based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing.
14. Only the referee, the complainant, the householder, their counselors, and their witnesses shall be present at the hearing.
15. Within five days after all evidence has been heard, the Committee shall make a determination as to whether the complainant has standing to complain and, if so, whether the householder has refused to rent an apartment or room to the complainant principally because of the complainant's race, color, creed or national origin, and shall mail by certified mail, to the householder and to the complainant, a copy of its determination with reasons therefor. Should the determination be adverse to the householder, it shall also state the action which will be recommended by the Committee.
16. Any action to be taken by the Committee may be taken by a three-member panel of the Committee.
17. It is important that complaints receive orderly and prompt consideration. Extensions of time beyond the times stated herein may be granted by the Chairperson only upon a showing of good cause.