Impressum

Bard College Berlin Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy
 

Bard College Berlin is committed to ensuring equal access to its educational programs and equal employment without regard to an individual's sex, gender, race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, veteran status, military status, domestic violence victim status, ex-offender status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local  law. Students, employees, applicants, and other members of Bard College Berlin community (including, but not limited to, vendors, visitors, and guests) shall not be subject to discrimination or harassment prohibited by law or otherwise treated adversely based upon a protected characteristic. Similarly, the College will not tolerate harassing, violent, intimidating, or discriminatory conduct by its students, employees, or any other member of, or visitor to, the College community. This includes, without limitation, sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence, dating violence, and domestic violence.

Bard College Berlin Whistleblower Reporting Channel

In accordance with the Whistleblower Protection Act (Hinweisgeberschutzgesetz), employees of Bard College Berlin can report any violations of the law to the whistleblower reporting channel. Pursuant to § 1 HinSchG, protection from reprisal is given to persons if they have obtained information regarding offenses during performance of their work tasks or prior to performing work tasks and report or disclose these to the reporting offices provided for under this act. Access to whistleblower complaints is restricted to the designated whistleblower report investigators (as of January 1, 2025, these are Maria Anderson-Long and Caitlin Hahn).

Examples of reportable violations include:

• Violations that are punishable by law
• Violations that carry fines if the law in question serves to protect the health and rights of the employee (e.g. violations of employment law, minimum wage law, environmental law)
• Violations against federal and state legislation or against directly applicable EU laws, for instance food safety laws, consumer protection laws, data protection laws

Please be advised that the Whistleblower Reporting Channel is not meant for general complaints or information about private misconduct.

Whistleblowers can report violations in the following ways or a combination thereof:

• In writing via the Whistleblower Complaints Form
• By phone to 030 43733 133 (Maria Anderson-Long) or 030 43733 0 (Caitlin Hahn)
• Meeting in person with Maria Anderson-Long or Caitlin Hahn

After submitting the report form, the whistleblower report investigators will:

• Confirm receipt of the report to the whistleblower within 7 days
• Determine whether the reported violation falls within the scope of the HinschG
• Maintain contact with the whistleblower
• Check the validity of the report 
• Request further information from the whistleblower if necessary
• Initiate appropriate follow-up measures
• Inform the whistleblower about planned or completed follow-up measures within 3 months after the confirmation of receipt  

All reports are treated confidentially within the framework of the HinSchG. The whistleblower report investigators must sign a confidentiality agreement before taking up their post. Additionally, whistleblowers will be provided with a data protection statement. Report documentation must be erased 3 years after the case is completed, but can be kept longer than 3 years if other laws require this.

Whistleblowers also have the option of contacting a public authority to submit a report. In Germany, these include the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, and the Federal Cartel Office.