Campus News
Annual notice on employees responsible for reporting discrimination, sexual violence, or sexual harassment
To promote a healthy campus climate, we encourage everyone in our community to report incidents of sexual violence, sexual harassment, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation to EEP.
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 (EEO). The EEP Office is responsible for the administration of UCSC’s policies and procedures regarding the prohibition of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, religion, disability, sex, gender, age, and other legally 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, sexual harassment, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation to EEP.
All UC Santa Cruz employees* 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 administrators, Academic Personnel administrators, Student Affairs 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 cannot delegate your Responsible Employee reporting duty to someone else or assume you do not have to report if you know someone else reported it. Each person who has knowledge of potential Prohibited Conduct must make their own timely report.
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. The EEO Office assists the University in these efforts to provide a working and learning environment free of bias, discrimination, and harassment, and in which all students, staff, and faculty may thrive.
To that end, the EEO Office oversees the university’s affirmative action efforts to ensure equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and faculty and staff employees.
The EEO Office also enforces the UC Policy on Anti-Discrimination, which explicitly prohibits discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or retaliation 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 or family 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 for those impacted by sexual violence and sexual harassment, provide them with safety and supportive measures so they may continue to access their education, employment, or other programs or activities of the University.
Responsible employees are required to report SVSH AND Discrimination
All employees, with the exception of confidential employees who receive information about Prohibited Conduct in their confidential capacity (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 community member or 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, Student Affairs personnel, 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 who 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 (EEP) 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.
Compliance with state and federal anti-discrimination laws
As a public institution governed by the laws of the State of California and the United States, the university recognizes the importance of ensuring that all institutional programs, practices, and policies are developed and implemented in full compliance with applicable legal requirements. This includes full adherence to federal and state anti-discrimination laws as well as Proposition 209, a state constitutional amendment approved by California voters in 1996, which prohibits California public institutions from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, public education, and public contracting.
Upholding federal and state anti-discrimination laws—and all applicable laws—is not only a legal obligation but a critical component of the university’s integrity and credibility. It ensures that the university advances its mission in a manner that is both equitable and compliant with the legal standards set forth by the people of California and federal law.
All university programs and initiatives must comply with state and federal antidiscrimination laws, including Proposition 209. Any incidents of discrimination arising in university programs or services are to be reported to EEP. Questions regarding how university programs and services must comply with state and federal law can be directed to the UCSC Office of Campus Counsel.
We thank all members of the University community for their continued commitment to these values and look forward to working together to maintain a university environment that is both inclusive and compliant with the highest legal and ethical standards.
Sincerely,
Julie Lewis
Title IX Director
Samara Winbush
EEO Director
* Employees with CARE, CAPS, and Ombuds Office are exempt when they receive disclosures when acting within their confidential capacity.