Policies

As a member of the University of Michigan Biological Station community, you are expected to uphold the following code of conduct:

Expected Behavior

• Treat all station residents, visitors, and members of the wider community with respect and consideration, valuing a diversity of views and opinions.

• Extend this same respect to the non-human members of our community and to the physical space and environments you occupy.

• Alert UM personnel and/or call 911 if you notice a dangerous situation or someone in distress. If you are safely able to do so, provide support to someone you observe to be in distress or the victim of discrimination or harassment.

Unacceptable or Criminal Behavior

• Physical or verbal harassment, intimidation, discrimination, or abuse of any resident, visitor, or member of the wider community

• Sexual harassment or violence

• Creation of a hostile work environment and/or interfering with an individual’s participation in the program for which they are here.

        This includes:

• Verbal or written comments or inquiries related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, economic status, or national origin

• Jokes based on any of these characteristics

• Slurs or lewd comments used in conversation, even when not directed at a particular person

• Verbal and nonverbal requests for sexual favors

• Repeated verbal, written and/or physical displays of unwanted affection or attention towards another person

• Persistent, unwelcome requests for dates

• Unwelcome physical contact. Includes staring, touching, or invading an individual’s personal space

• Stalking

• Blocking an individual’s movement with your body or an object

• Inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in the work environment or sharing such materials with co-workers

• Implicitly or explicitly making actions of a sexual nature a term or condition of a person’s employment, academic standing, or participation in research programs and related activities

Reporting

If you suspect or experience harassment, assault or discrimination, see our page for reporting options. You may also always talk to any staff member, resident assistant, faculty member, mentor, or administrator (including the Director or Associate Director) with whom you feel comfortable discussing sensitive issues about your concerns. Note that the Director, Associate Director, Resident Advisors and some staff and faculty are mandatory reporters, who are required by law to immediately report any information they learn about suspected prohibited conduct.

Day guests are welcome to visit residents at the Biological Station. Guests need to check-in at the front office upon arrival and should depart by 10 p.m. Day guests must pay for any dining hall meals ahead of time in the front office.

Please advise guests that camping, picnics, pets, and recreational motor boating are not allowed at the Biological Station.

In general, overnight guests should plan to stay in a local hotel.

Overnight guests in residents’ cabins are welcome for a maximum of 2 nights at a rate of $60/person/night, which includes meals. Guests must be registered and paid for at the UMBS front office. No overnight guests are permitted to stay in a resident’s cabin in the case of a shared cabin with roommates.

Guest cabins may be available for rent for a maximum of 2 nights; reservations cannot be confirmed until 7 days prior to the requested date of arrival. Guest cabins, when available, can be paid for in the UMBS front office at a rate of $150/person/night, which includes the cost of lodging and meals in the dining hall. Children (under 18 years old) are assessed a $75/person/night fee.

Guests should refer to the packing list and plan to bring their own bedding and towels.

Bedding is not provided.

The UMBS strives to maintain a campus community free of adverse effects from the misuse and abuse of alcohol or other drugs. The improper and excessive use of alcohol and other drugs can interfere with the UMBS mission by negatively affecting the health and safety of students, faculty and staff. Because of this this, the Alcohol and Drug Policy of the UMBS is as follows:

1. No residents under the age of 21 may possess or consume alcoholic beverages, as according to the laws of the state of Michigan and the policies of the University of Michigan. In accordance with state law, anyone with alcohol in the bloodstream is considered to be in possession of alcohol.

2. Residents who are 21 years of age or older may bring small amounts of alcohol to their residential areas for personal consumption. Students who are legally permitted to drink are expected to do so responsibly. Intoxication will never be accepted as an excuse for misconduct or infringement upon the rights of others.

3. Faculty and staff must not provide alcohol to or consume alcohol with Biological Station undergraduate students, even if they are of legal drinking age. This includes official and unofficial events where alcohol may be served.

4. The University of Michigan must comply with federal laws, meaning that marijuana use, in any capacity, is not allowed on any University campus.

5. Nicotine consumption in any capacity is prohibited anywhere on UMBS property.

6. Michigan laws and University of Michigan policies prohibit the sale, service or giving of alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 21. Additionally, the sale of alcoholic beverages (or cups or mixers to be used for alcohol) is prohibited anywhere in a University residence.

7. Kegs or other common sources of alcohol are not permitted in residence rooms or areas, even when the residents are over the age of 21. Advertising that implies or directly cites the availability of alcohol at any function or party is forbidden. Advertising a cover charge to be collected at the event or an admission payable in advance is also prohibited.

The UMBS Alcohol and Drug policy is put in place due to the potential medical, behavioral and social problems that can affect our community when substances are misused and abused. Problems such as vandalism, assault, harassment and disruption of sleep and study space increase in relation to misuse. It is crucial that participants not have impaired judgment or impaired physical abilities while engaging in Biological Station activities such as swimming, boating and hiking.

The University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) is fully committed to preventing sexual and gender-based harassment, assault and discrimination. The UMBS complies with the University of Michigan Policy on Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct, and is subject to the provisions of Title IX. Title IX is a federal law that guarantees equal access to education and employment and protects against discrimination, including sexual harassment or sexual violence. Remember, harassment can occur between persons of the same or different genders, age groups and positions/titles. Unacceptable behaviors are unacceptable at all times—not just when classes, fieldwork and other professional activities are in session.

Prohibited Behaviors

The following are some of, but not all, the behaviors prohibited under the University policy, and may also classify as a Title IX violation:

• Sexual assault is sexual contact that occurs without consent, as well as non-consensual physical abuse occurring in conjunction with consensual or non-consensual sexual contact.  

• Sexual exploitation is intentional conduct by which an individual takes or attempts to take non-consensual sexual advantage of another for one’s own benefit, or to benefit anyone other than the one being exploited.

• Sexual harassment is any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, whether verbal, graphic (e.g., pictures and videos), physical, or otherwise, when:

  • Submission to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of a person’s employment, education, living environment, or participation in any University program or activity 

  • Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for or a factor in decisions affecting that individual’s employment, education, living environment, or participation in a University program or activity, and/or

  • Such conduct creates a hostile environment, as evaluated by the University. It is important to note that not all unwelcome conduct or speech of a sexual nature creates a hostile environment. 

• Gender-based harassment includes harassment based on actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or pregnancy. Such harassment may include acts of aggression, intimidation or hostility, whether verbal, graphic, physical or otherwise, even if the acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature, when the behavior:

  • Adversely affects a term or condition of an individual’s employment, education, living environment, or participation in a University program or activity,

  • Is used as the basis for or a factor in decisions affecting that individual’s employment, education, living environment, or participation in a University program or activity, and/or

  • Creates a hostile environment, as evaluated by the University.

• Sex and/or gender-based stalking. Stalking is generally determined to be sex or gender-based when it is sexual or romantic in nature, is committed by the complainant’s current or former partner of an intimate, romantic, or sexual nature, and/or is related to the complainant’s actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

• Intimate Partner Violence includes dating violence and domestic violence. 

• Sex and gender-based discrimination is conduct that is based upon an individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or pregnancy that is used as the basis for a factor in decisions affecting, or adversely affects a term or condition of, an individual’s employment, education, living environment, or participation in a University program or activity.

• Retaliation means an adverse action taken against a person for making a report or complaint of prohibited conduct, including intimidation, threats, and coercion among others. 

Reporting an Incident

If you experience harassment, assault or discrimination, you have several reporting options:  

• Reports can be made online through the University to the Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX Office (ECRT). The ECRT is a reporting resolution resource and as such, is private but not confidential

  • Anonymous reports can be made to the ECRT using an online reporting form. You should use a non-university-affiliated email address that does not have your name to remain anonymous

• Reports can be made anonymously to the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC) through the 24/7 compliance hotline at 1-866-990-0111

• Reports can be made online to the police through U-M Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) 

  • Reports can also be made by calling DPSS at 734-763-1131

• You may talk to any mandatory reporter on UMBS campus, including, but not limited to, the Director, Assistant Director and all Resident Advisors. 

You may also always talk to any staff member, resident assistant, faculty member, mentor, or administrator with whom you feel comfortable discussing sensitive issues about your concerns. We will take all complaints seriously and will follow-up on any concerns of our students, staff, researchers, teaching assistants, faculty and guests in residence. The matter will be handled with respect and support in accordance with the University policies as described in full in the University of Michigan Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Resources.

Individuals with Reporting Obligations (IROs)

Individuals with reporting obligations must immediately report any information they learn about suspected prohibited conduct to ECRT or the Title IX Coordinator, so if you bring your concerns to them, they must report it. At UMBS, these individuals include the Director, Associate Director, resident advisors, teaching faculty and most staff. You can learn more about IROs here.

Confidential Resources

U-M Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) – (734) 764-8312, (24hrs)

Faculty and Staff Counseling and Consultation Office (FASCCO) – (734) 936-8660

UMHS Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – (734) 763-5409

SAFEHouse Center – (734) 995-5444 (24hrs)

National Domestic Violence Hotline – (800) 799-7233 (voice), (800) 787-3224 (TTY),

National Sexual Assault Hotline – (800) 656-4673

Office of the Ombuds – (734) 763-3545

All students are also expected to acknowledge and follow the University of Michigan’s Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Hunting

Hunting is strictly prohibited in designated “No Hunting Zones” on UMBS-owned land. Outside these designated areas, hunting is permitted with all up-to-date hunting licenses. 

Hunters must abide by tribal and state policies outside UMBS-owned land.

Collecting Specimen

The organisms on and surrounding the UMBS must be conserved, as they serve a crucial role in the ecosystem as well as in our education and research. Collecting specimens must be limited to minimum needs, and therefore collecting for commercial use, for class or museum use elsewhere, or for transfer to others is strictly forbidden, except when special arrangements have been made with the Director. 

In collecting for scientific use, both on and off Biological Station property, take care to avoid depleting the region and altering habitats. Never take more than enough specimens to satisfy your immediate scientific needs, as approved by the professor in whose area of interest the organisms lie. Do not collect any plant or vertebrate specimens or lymnaeid snails in areas close to the center of campus or in the shoal in front of campus.

Some plants and animals are protected by Michigan or federal law and must not be picked for any purpose. Others are rare and are not permitted to be picked on Biological Station property.

Camping and fires are not permitted on UMBS property, including lanterns, candles, grill, and campfires. Extinguishers are located near cabins and are well marked. If you see a campsite, or evidence of a fire, please report to the administration immediately.

Any type of firearm or firework is prohibited on UMBS property.