Fostering a Culture of Respect at the Smithsonian

The Office of Human Resources is excited to announce a new training course required for the entire Smithsonian community, SI Civil Training for Employees and Affiliated Staff.

The Smithsonian is committed to maintaining a work environment free from harassment and workplace violence. An environment where people feel welcome, respected, safe, and valued is necessary for all individuals to contribute to their fullest potential. The SI Civil program is a resource that individuals may use to report harassing conduct, threats of violence, incidents of intimidation, or other concerning behaviors and get information about appropriate next steps. The goal and mission of SI Civil is to empower individuals to communicate workplace concerns and facilitate the resolution of those concerns as quickly as possible. To prevent these incidents from occurring in the workplace, we must all foster a workplace culture that is civil, respectful, and professional.

Who should take this course?

This training is required for everyone at the Smithsonian, including employees and other affiliated staff, such as contractor personnel, volunteers, academic appointees, and visiting researchers.

Is this mandatory?

At this time, all Smithsonian employees and supervisors (federal and trust) must take the training.

This course is mandatory for all volunteers except short-term volunteers (i.e., those who volunteer less than 30 days with the Smithsonian) effective October 1, 2024. For new volunteers, it should be taken within 60 days of initial appointment. Current volunteers should complete it within 6 months. All volunteers must re-take this training every 3 years.

Is this different than EEO training?

Yes, this training is considered human resources (SI Civil) training. It does not replace or supersede the mandatory Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) training courses.

What will you learn?

This training will give you an overview of the SI Civil program, policies, and reporting process. You will also learn about skills and methods to foster a culture of respect in the workplace. After completing this course, you will understand the SI Civil policies, your role in reacting to and preventing harassing situations, and the steps you can take to prevent these situations from occurring in the workplace.

What is the training platform?

This training is available on VSys: Volunteer Management System and on SI External Learning (External Moodle).

In VSys, the training can be found under the Online Trainings tab as depicted below:

In SI External Learning (External Moodle), the training can be found under SI Civil in Courses as depicted below. It is the only course listed under SI Civil:

Who can I contact for more information or questions?

If you have questions about whether or not you should take this training or how to access the training, contact your volunteer supervisor.

If you have questions about the content of this training, contact SI Civil at sicivil@si.edu.