Grinnell College Staff Handbook

Section 1: Grinnell's Workplace Environment and Guidelines

Grinnell College is an undergraduate, four-year, coeducational residential college that seeks to develop in students both analytical and imaginative thinking in the liberal arts. The college exists to serve students directly and society indirectly. The college's ultimate goal is to educate citizens and leaders for our republic and the world beyond our borders. To this end, Grinnell graduates should be equipped to pursue successful careers, satisfying personal lives, effective community service, and intellectually satisfying and physically active leisure. Selective in admission, the college strives to be a multicultural residential community open to the intellectually qualified who want to participate. Grinnell fosters critical independence in the context of a community that expects and respects intellectual and social diversity. We support and encourage a faculty of active scholars whose primary mission is to teach. (Grinnell College Profile, Academic Catalog.)

The college is legally owned and operated by an independent Board of Trustees which determines administrative and fiscal procedures and policies of the college.



1.1 The College's Working Communities

One of the largest employers in the Grinnell community, the college has more than 500 faculty and staff members. They are divided into the following categories:

  • Faculty are organized into 25 major departments and 3 academic divisions (Humanities, Science, and Social Studies).
  • Administrative Staff are non-hourly (exempt) personnel.
  • Support Staff are hourly (non-exempt) personnel. They consist of office/technical and dining services personnel.
  • Members of the Bargaining Unit are hourly (non-exempt) personnel. They are employees in Facilities Management and follow the policies and procedures described in the Teamsters Local 90 Union contract.

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1.2 The College's Campus

The college's 95-acre campus consists of more than 55 buildings and a 365-acre environmental research area 10 miles from campus. All members of the college community are asked to share in the responsibility for maintaining the campus as a safe, pleasant, and attractive place for all who use and visit it.

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1.3 Communications

Good working relationships and open lines of communication are essential to doing our jobs well and to meeting the expectations of the campus community. To ensure that relationships between employees and students are positive, the college has adopted the following policy:

All students and employees of Grinnell College deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

The college will not condone actions of any employee or student that are threatening or

intimidating to another employee, student, or any member of its various constituencies.

Severe disciplinary action may be taken by the college in any case in which such action occurs.

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1.4 Courtesy to Visitors

Thousands of alumni, parents, prospective students and their families, and other friends of Grinnell College visit the campus each year. It is important that all persons associated with the college are helpful and courteous to each of these visitors.  The Faculty/Staff Directory is a good source of information about persons, places, and organizations at the college. Please be ready to use the Directory for the benefit of visitors seeking information.

Information about Students: Any inquiry from visitors or persons outside the college about an individual student should be referred to the Student Affairs Office or the appropriate resident adviser. Educational information about students is considered confidential.

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1.5 Damages

If you should accidentally damage college or personal property while performing your duties, you should immediately report the incident to your supervisor.

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1.6 Gifts

As a rule, you should not accept any personal gifts from persons or organizations with whom the college does business. Token gifts having little monetary value may be excluded from this rule. If you have any questions, be sure to ask your supervisor.

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1.7 Honesty

Grinnell College has had a long tradition of employee honesty and it is important to ensure that this tradition is maintained. Therefore, you should avoid any actions that could cast suspicion upon yourself or anyone else. Even the slightest hint of dishonesty in one employee may jeopardize everyone else's reputation as well.

If you are found to have stolen or misappropriated property of any kind, you are subject to immediate termination.

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1.8 Parking Policy

Off-street parking on campus is limited. The college has designated parking areas for faculty/staff, students, and visitors.  In order to park in a faculty/staff area, your car must have a valid faculty/staff permit. You can obtain one, free of charge, from the Security Office, located at 1432 East Street, or from the Office of Human Resources, located on the lower level of the Old Glove Factory.  If you park your vehicle in a student or visitor area, you will be ticketed. You are expected to pay all parking fines promptly.

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1.9 Smoking

Grinnell College is striving to maintain a clean-air workplace for the comfort of all persons. The smoking policy is as follows:

  • Academic and Administrative Buildings and the Forum  Smoking will not be permitted inside any academic or administrative buildings or the Forum unless an area exists that already vents directly to the outside and that is not used by nonsmokers.
  • Residential Smoking Policy  Current smoking policies will be maintained in hall lounges and college-owned houses, as well as Bob's Underground. However, the number of dormitories allocated as "Non-Smoking" will be increased on each side of campus over the next few years. Prospective students will be informed regarding the availability of "Non-Smoking" dorms on campus.

Smoking will be permitted outdoors, EXCEPT where smoke is likely to enter buildings through passages such as doorways and air intakes, or where smoke will otherwise affect people using buildings, e.g., access routes. Outside areas where smoking is prohibited will be clearly marked.

Prominent and appropriate "No Smoking" signs will be posted at entrances and in critical areas (e.g., restrooms) within academic and administrative buildings and the Forum. In addition, permanent, functional, and attractive smoking-material receptacles will be placed at all building entrances.

The college administration will implement a variety of programs as part of its Wellness Program, aimed at helping and encouraging faculty, staff, and students to stop smoking.

The enforcement of smoking policy will rest with the administration of the college for academic and administrative buildings and with student affairs for residential buildings.

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1.10 Solicitations

There is to be no solicitation of any type, including solicitation of signatures or money, for any purpose or cause in any area of the college during working time unless approved by the President.  

According to rulings of the National Labor Relations Board, solicitation will be permitted during the employee's non-working time, such as break periods, meal times, or other specified periods during the work day when employees are not engaged in performing their work tasks. Any employee who is not on working time may not solicit an employee who is on working time.  

Distribution of leaflets, pamphlets, advertising, tickets, notices, or other such written materials is prohibited in working areas at any time and in non-working areas during working time.

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1.11 Escort Service

The Escort Service is available for staff who prefer not to walk alone at night to their cars or between buildings on campus. Dial HELP or 4357.

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1.12 Keys/Key Cards

The Facilities Management Office issues keys/keycards. You will be required to sign for keys/key cards issued, and all keys/key cards must be returned upon termination of employment.

Careful control of keys/key cards is necessary to protect college property. By receiving keys/key cards, you accept full responsibility for them. This includes keeping them in a safe place, not duplicating them, and not permitting other people to use or duplicate them.

You must immediately report all lost, stolen, or misplaced keys/key cards to the Facilities Management Office.

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1.13 Severe Weather

During inclement weather, listen to your radio for weather service reports. Area radio stations include:
KGRN, 1410 AM, Grinnell;
KCOB, 1280 AM, Newton;
KFJB, 1230 AM, Marshalltown;
WHO, 1040 AM, Des Moines;
KRNT, 1350 AM, Des Moines.
KCJJ, 1560 AM, Iowa City
The FOX, 100.7 AM, Iowa City

If a storm increases in intensity, listen to your radio (portable transistor is best). The Weather Service will report if this area is under a severe thunderstorm or tornado watch. A watch means that conditions exist that a severe storm or tornado is possible. A warning means that a severe storm or tornado has been sighted. If a warning is issued for Grinnell and N.E. Poweshiek County, seek appropriate shelter as noted below. A list of shelter locations is available here.

DURING A WARNING:
If a tornado is sighted in this area, warning sirens will sound. The sirens, one of which is located near Norris hall, will make a long, continuous, loud sound. When you hear it during a storm, do not hesitate; take shelter immediately. (There is no all clear signal. You must use your own judgment on resuming normal activities. Also, the sirens are tested at 9:00 a.m. each Thursday during the tornado season.)

a. Go to the lowest floor of any building you are in, a basement or dormitory pit, and head for interior spaces or rooms that face east, preferably north and east. (Rooms facing north and east are usually safer than those that face south and west.)

b. Get into a room or area without windows. If this is not possible, stay away from the windows or exterior walls. Get behind/under a heavy piece of furniture or object to protect against flying debris.

c. Avoid corridors, particularly those facing west or south. If you have to take shelter in one, open and prop any doors that have glass or break the glass out.

d. Avoid any building with a long-span flat roof or large open spaces in its interior (PEC, Darby, Library, Harris Center or Roberts Theatre).

If in a car during a tornado warning, get out of the car and seek shelter in a building basement. If there is not enough time, lie flat in a ditch or other depression off the roadway.

Do not call the college switchboard, physical plant, or the city police during a tornado warning period except in the event of a clear emergency. Those lines should be kept open for emergency purposes.

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1.14 Use of College Vehicles

The college car pool includes small cars, minivans, and 15-passenger vans. College vehicles are NOT available for personal use.

Make reservations for college vehicles with the Facilities Management Office (ext. 3300). To make a reservation you are required to provide the following:

Date of departure & return
Number in group
Departure time
Purpose of trip
Approximate return time
Budget account number
Driver's name
Destination

Pick up the vehicle at the Security Office.

An Amoco credit card is enclosed in the pouch attached to the keys for use in fueling the vehicle. If you do not use a college credit card, there will be 10 percent deducted from the total price to cover the college tax exempt status. Please use the self-serve pumps.

Park the vehicle in the Security parking lot upon your return to campus. Clean debris from the car, lock it, and return the keys and credit cards, with receipts, to the Security Office. Vehicles MUST BE returned to the Security Office no matter what time drivers return to Grinnell. LEAVE THE CAR WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS, IF POSSIBLE.

Driving privileges will be revoked if the assigned driver does not follow all rules and procedures.

Parking tickets must be paid by the driver, and reported to Facilities Management Office.

Student drivers can be hired for trips, as well. Each department/office hires and pays their own certified student drivers. A list of certified drivers and their schedules can be obtained from Facilities Management. NOTE: Student drivers can only drive college cars and mini-vans. They cannot drive 15 passenger vans or trucks. Certified student drivers are permitted to drive a college vehicle out-of-state ONLY when accompanied by a Grinnell College employee or an approved adult driver riding in the same vehicle.

Each student driver must be certified each academic year. To become certified a student must:

  • Be 20 years of age, have a valid U.S. driver's license for two years, and not have any moving violations within the previous two years.
  • Register IN PERSON at the Facilities Management Office. Said driver will not receive a certified driving card until his/her license and driving record has been verified by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

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1.15 Orientation Checklist

Orientation is an important part of becoming familiar with your job and Grinnell College. Your supervisor is primarily responsible for your orientation. Assistance will come from the Staff Handbook, fellow employees, and the New Employee and Benefits Orientation meeting.

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1.16 Nondiscrimination Policy

Grinnell College is a nonprofit educational institution that admits academically qualified students without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, age, or sexual orientation to all the rights, privileges, programs, and opportunities available to students at the college. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, age, or sexual orientation in administration of any of its educational policies or programs, including admission, financial aid, and athletics. It also is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action employer, and complies with all applicable laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination, including Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972.

For more information about this policy or to lodge complaints or grievances under it, contact the Office of Human Resources for the affirmative action officer.

The college is committed to providing all of its students, faculty, staff, and visitors with equal access to its program, events, and facilities. To this end, in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the college has made modifications to its buildings and grounds in a reasonable manner to provide access for people with disabilities. The college also is prepared to supply students and faculty, including those with limiting visual or hearing impairments, any auxiliary aids, modifications in classroom locations, and/or adjustment of classroom techniques and practices that will allow equal access to Grinnell's programs and degree objectives.

For more information about this policy, or how to receive assistance to make modifications or to accommodate individual needs, contact the Office of Human Resources for non-academic accommodations and for academic accommodations contact the Director of Academic Advising.

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1.17 Discrimination and Sexual Harassment

The college seeks to maintain a work environment free from discrimination and sexual harassment. The college will act where necessary to eliminate these practices and to remedy their effects. A complete description of the policy on discrimination and sexual harassment and the procedures for filing a complaint is available here.

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1.18 Diversity Policy

The Diversity policy describes the college's commitment to the recruitment, hiring, and promotion of women, minorities, and other persons from protected classes. The policy describes federal statutes, executive orders, and implementing regulations that apply to these individuals. A complete description of the policy is available here.

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1.19 Drug & Alcohol Policy

Grinnell College is required by the United States Government to comply with two separate laws concerning drugs: The "Drug-Free Workplace Act" of 1988 (Public Law 100-690) and the "Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act" of 1989 (Public Law 101-226). A complete description of this policy is available here.

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Content Copyright © 1997 Grinnell College
All rights reserved

Office of Human Resources, Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa 50112-1690
641-269-4818

Send comments to HR@grinnell.edu
Revised February 20, 2001