Reaffirmation of Policy on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Offenses

To the Anteater community:

As we begin a new academic year, it is imperative that we act as a community to prevent sexual harassment and sexual violence and to report it when it occurs. Only by working together as active bystanders to prevent and oppose sexual harassment and sexual violence will we effect real change in our community. Per the UC policy on sexual violence and sexual harassment, as implemented in UCI’s guidelines for reporting and responding to reports of sex offenses and guidelines for reporting and responding to reports of discrimination and harassment, all university employees (including staff, faculty and student staff) must make a report to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity when they learn through the course of their employment of an incident of sexual harassment or a sex offense involving students. Additionally, supervisors and faculty have a further duty to report all incidents involving staff or faculty that they learn of during the course of their employment. Reporting to OEOD ensures that those affected by sexual harassment or sex offenses can learn about their rights and options and be given access to all the assistance and support services available. To request training, make reports or seek assistance, please contact OEOD at 949-824-5594 or oeod@uci.edu. Additionally, the UCI Police Department can help with emergency situations and criminal complaints.

Those affected by sexual harassment or sexual violence can receive confidential support through the Campus Assault Resources & Education office. Those accused of engaging in sexual harassment or sex offenses can receive information and assistance through the Respondent Services Office. Helpful information and resources are available to all of our community at http://soinfo.uci.edu.

Finally, the UC Office of the President has invited the university community to comment on the proposed revisions to the UC policy on sexual violence and sexual harassment. The SVSH policy revisions seek to address critical concerns identified through feedback received earlier this year from faculty, staff and students across the system. In addition, changes have been made as required by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights in its February 2018 resolution agreement with UC Berkeley and as recommended by the California State Auditor’s Office in its June 2018 report on UC’s response to SVSH complaints.

I encourage you to take this opportunity to review the proposed changes: draft revised presidential policy on sexual violence and sexual harassment (PDF). If you have any questions or if you wish to provide comments on the proposed revisions, please contact Rachel Gamby, manager of administrative policies, at ucipolicy@uci.edu no later than Dec. 7.

Please join me in working to end sexual harassment and sex offenses in our community.

Fiat Lux,

Chancellor Howard Gillman