Dear Campus Community,
UC Santa Cruz strives to create and sustain an equitable environment for students, staff, and faculty.
The Office of Equity & Equal Protection (EEP) oversees compliance with Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action. The Office is responsible for the administration of UCSC’s policies and procedures regarding discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, religion, disability, sex, gender, age, and other protected identities. Both Title IX and EEO are housed within EEP.
To promote a healthy campus climate, we encourage everyone in our community to report incidents of sexual violence, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation to EEP.
UC Santa Cruz employees, with very limited exceptions, are required to promptly report to the Title IX Office if they learn about sexual violence or sexual harassment that involves a student. Additionally, all managers and supervisors, faculty, Human Resources, Academic Personnel administrators, and Campus Police are required to report that any person affiliated with the University may have experienced Prohibited Conduct described in either the UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy or the UC’s Policy on Anti-Discrimination.
You can use the reporting form at https://equity.ucsc.edu, email Title IX directly at titleix@ucsc.edu or email EEO directly at equity@ucsc.edu.
Reporting discrimination to the Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Office
UCSC is committed to developing and maintaining its capacity for equity, and to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment in which to belong. To that end, the EEO Office oversees the university’s affirmative action efforts to ensure equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and academic and staff employees.
The Office also enforces the UC Policy on Anti-Discrimination, which prohibits discrimination or discriminatory harassment against any university community member on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, including shared ancestry, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, gender transition status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, military, or veteran status.
For questions and concerns related to affirmative action, discrimination, or discriminatory harassment, contact equity@ucsc.edu.
Reporting sexual violence and sexual harassment to the Title IX Office
The Title IX Office plays a critical role by fostering a campus climate in which members of our community are protected from all forms of sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual exploitation, invasions of sexual privacy, and relationship violence. Sexual violence and sexual harassment have no place on our campus. Ensuring prevention and appropriate referral of all allegations is a shared responsibility, and we are grateful to all of you who have collaborated, consulted, and supported this work.
The goal of the Title IX Office at UC Santa Cruz is to serve as a support resource for students, staff, and faculty who may have experienced sexual violence and sexual harassment and to ensure those impacted by sexual violence and sexual harassment receive the safety and supportive measures necessary so they may continue to access their education, employment, or other programs or activities of the University.
Responsible Employees Are Required to Report
Most employees–with the exception of confidential employees (Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), CARE, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), & Ombuds), are required to report to the Title IX Office if they learn about sexual violence or sexual harassment that involves a student. Supervisors and managers, faculty, HR, Academic Personnel administrators, and campus police must also report if they learn that a university affiliate may have experienced possible misconduct under the SVSH Policy. We have an online reporting form you can use to fulfill your reporting responsibilities, receive confirmation of your report, and ensure we can respond quickly. The Title IX Office is more than happy to meet with you for a consultation if you have any questions or concerns.
Supervisors, managers, HR and Academic Personnel administrators, faculty, deans, and department chairs are also required to report to the Equity and Equal Opportunity Office if they learn about discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or retaliation in the course of their employment. Report incidents using the online reporting form or by emailing the office directly. Additional information and answers to frequently asked questions about reporting can be found in the Anti-Discrimination Policy, or by contacting EEO at equity@ucsc.edu.
Employee Support
The Title IX and EEO Offices are not emergency response organizations and observe regular business hours. These Offices respond to reports in a timely manner, provide safety and supportive measures as needed, and work with the complainant to determine how to proceed. By reporting to EEP, you help us connect with parties that need resources and support and provide us with important information for addressing safety concerns on campus. We encourage staff and faculty to reach out for support in fulfilling these obligations.
Equity & Equal Protection is a resource for staff and faculty as well as students. You can contact EEP to receive support or to assist others in gaining support from our Office. Our ultimate goal is to foster a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for learning, living, teaching, researching, and working.
Sincerely,
Julie Lewis
Title IX Director
Samara Winbush
EEO Director