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Review of proposed revisions to the Sexual Violence & Sexual Harassment Policy

To: UC Santa Cruz Community

From: UCSC Title IX Office

November 01, 2021

On August 26, 2021, the Systemwide Title IX Office announced several proposed revisions to the Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment (“SVSH Policy”) to ensure compliance with a new state law (Senate Bill 493) and to better account for Prohibited Conduct in the clinical setting. 

The Systemwide Title IX Office has requested that comment on the proposed revisions be provided no later than Wednesday, November 24, 2021. To ensure that all members of the UCSC community are aware of the proposed revisions and are able to offer their input, the Equity & Equal Protection Office will be hosting several listening sessions where we will provide an overview of the proposed changes and gather any feedback that attendees would like shared as part of the review process. 

Important proposed changes that we will cover during our listening sessions include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • the addition of “sexual exploitation” as a form of Prohibited Conduct; "

  • limitations on UC’s use of no-contact orders that restrict a Complainant’s contact with a Respondent;  

  • a requirement that all Responsible Employees report possible Prohibited Conduct that occurs in the context of patient care.  

  • modified definitions of Prohibited Conduct that apply when allegations arise in the context of patient care. 

To review the entirety of the proposed revisions, please see the linked copies of the proposed revised policy (clean copy) (red-lined). We also encourage you to attend one of the upcoming listening sessions based on your affiliation. 

  1. Undergraduate Students - Thursday, November 18th from 2:00 - 3:00 pm (Pacific Time). Please register in advance for this meeting here.

  2. Graduate Students- Thursday, November 18th from 3:30 - 4:30 pm (Pacific Time). Please register in advance for this meeting here.

  3. Staff- Friday, November 19th from 2:00 - 3:00 pm (Pacific Time). Please register in advance for this meeting here. 

  4. Lecturers, Faculty, and Academic Personnel- Friday, November 19th from 3:30 - 4:30 pm (Pacific Time) Please register in advance for this meeting here.

If you wish to provide comment but are unable to attend any of the aforementioned listening sessions, please provide your comment via email at equity@ucsc.edu no later than Wednesday, November 24th at 5:00 p.m. You may also provide comment directly to the Systemwide Title IX Office by emailing Suzanne.Taylor@ucop.edu no later than November 24th.