Dear Instructors,
Last quarter our UC Santa Cruz community was deeply affected by the conflict in Israel and Palestine. With the violence continuing, we anticipate that our students, instructors and staff will continue to be impacted by these events, whether directly through personal connections, affinity ties, and individual activism or indirectly through media exposure or other channels.
A number of resources are available on campus to our instructional community and students to support trauma-informed and inclusive teaching and learning and to uphold the health and well-being of our community members. The university has also created a new web page that offers information to help students, faculty, staff and others report acts of bias as well as discrimination and harassment.
Course design and class support
There are a number of excellent resources on inclusive teaching practices available on the Teaching and Learning Center website. Of particular interest are recently revised guides to trauma-informed course design and addressing critical current events in the classroom.
The center also offers one-on-one consultations to any instructor with specific questions about designing class activities or responding to conflict that may arise in the classroom.
Information and support for students
Counseling & Psychological Services provide a wide range of mental health and wellness options that are accessible through in-person, phone and Zoom appointments. Slug Support provides help with basic needs and connects users to other campus resources.
International Student and Scholar Services provides international students with support and resources.
Information and support for faculty
The Office of the Ombuds provides confidential, neutral and informal dispute resolution services, including facilitating community and assisting parties in reaching mutually acceptable agreements to find fair and equitable resolutions and services that supplement other administrative processes. Services are available to the academic community, students and staff.
Department chairs, divisional faculty equity advocates, and associate deans for diversity, equity and inclusion may also provide guidance and resources to instructors.
Instructors may contact the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (vcdei@ucsc.edu) for additional support.
How to report experiences of bias
Anyone experiencing incidents of bias, hate or intimidation is encouraged to report it through the Bias Response process.
Students may file a grievance based on alleged violations of university policy or campus regulations regarding student privacy rights, discriminatory practices based upon disability and other areas.
As we navigate this challenging time together, I encourage everyone to be mindful of your own health and to reach out and check on your colleagues and friends. Thank you for all you do in support of our students.
Sincerely,
Lori
Lori Kletzer
Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
