Grievances
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There may come a time in your college career when you feel that you have been treated
unfairly or that your rights have been violated. You might be intimidated by the
very thought of taking action in a large setting like UCSB, where your support system
often consists of people whom you've never met. It is important for you to know
that there are people on this campus in positions that have been established specifically
to assist students who have complaints.
If you have taken the necessary steps to deal with a problem on your own, and you
still feel as if you are being treated unfairly, then it is time to take the problem
to someone who can help you. If you already have an established support system,
by all means utilize it. If not, you can begin the process of problem resolution
in some of the places that follow. Grievances may be filed against faculty, staff,
administrators, or other students. UCSB students are encouraged to take action if
they feel they have been discriminated against in any way: if a grade appears to
have been assigned on the basis of something other than performance in a course;
if other students appear to be cheating on exams or papers; if it appears that you
or someone you know is being treated differently on the basis of ethnicity, cultural
background, or sexual orientation. Even if you don't want to lodge a formal complaint,
you are still encouraged to discuss options with someone who can help.
I wish I had known that the Women's Center offers workshops to educate students
on sexual harassment.
Now that you are "on your own," it is your responsibility to watch over your academic,
social, and physical well-being. Just as no one at UCSB is going to keep track of
deadlines, final exams, and overdue library books for you, no one can safeguard
your rights the way that you can. Racial and sexual orientation discrimination and
sexual harassment can be subtle; if something feels wrong to you, or you are uncomfortable
in any way in your dealings with faculty, staff, administrators, or other students,
help yourself by seeking assistance from any of the following people or resources.
Non-Discrimination Policy
It is the policy of the University not to engage in discrimination against or harassment
of any person employed or seeking employment with the University of California on
the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy
disability¹, age, medical condition (cancer related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age,
sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services². This policy
applies to all employment practices, including recruitment, selection, promotion,
transfer, merit increase, salary, training and development, demotion, and separation.
This policy is intended to be consistent with the provisions of applicable State
and Federal laws and University policies. The University also prohibits sexual harassment.
This non-discrimination policy also covers admission, access, and treatment in University
programs and activities. Members of the UCSB staff are available to answer students'
questions about non-discrimination policies and procedures. Information and copies
of the grievance procedures are available from the campus offices listed on this
page. For further information concerning student grievance procedures, refer to
the General Catalog.
Copies of the University's policies and campus implementation procedures and questions
regarding various privacy regulations, including the text of the Privacy Act, can
be addressed to the Santa Barbara Campus Information Practices Public Records Coordinator,
at the Business Services Office of Academic Preparation and Equal Opportunity (APEO),
SAASB, Room 3203.
¹Pregnancy includes pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy
or childbirth.
²As defined by the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994
Contested Grades or Complaints Against an Instructor
Any student who believes that a grade was assigned based on criteria other than
course performance may challenge that grade using Academic Senate Regulations A25
and A10. The full text of Senate Regulations A25 and A10 can be found in the appendix
of the UCSB General Catalog. Students may have grievances not related to grades,
sexual harassment, or racial prejudice. If the student is unable to resolve the
issue with the instructor, the student should report the incident immediately to
the department chairperson, or should seek assistance from one of the people listed
in this section.
Complaints Against Non-Instructional Personnel
The procedure for resolving grievances against non-instructional personnel involves
reporting the incident to the offending party's immediate supervisor or seeking
assistance from one of the offices listed in this section.
Office of Judicial Affairs
The Office of Judicial Affairs strives to create a safe and intellectually challenging
setting for UCSB students to live and learn, and to maintain an environment conducive
to UCSB's principles of "Scholarship, Leadership, and Citizenship." We do this by:
-
Publishing and enforcing the UCSB Campus Regulations
- Administering the campus
judicial process
- Serving as the main reporting point for hate crimes and incidents
- Educating the campus community about academic integrity and responsible conduct
- Providing information and assistance to students regarding student rights and
grievance procedures
The Office of Judicial Affairs is located at 2260 Student Resource Building, or
you can contact Angie Tozier, Assistant Director of Judicial Affairs at 893-5016
or tozier-a@sa.ucsb.edu; judicialaffairs.sa.ucsb.edu
Office of the Ombuds
The Office of the Ombuds is a conflict prevention, management,
and resolution resource that serves the entire UCSB campus community, including
students, staff, and faculty. It is confidential, impartial, informal, and independent
resource that assists campus members who seek guidance with the informal resolution
of any University-related complaint or conflict. The Office is a safe, confidential,
and impartial place to express concerns. The Office helps campus members identify
serious issues, informally resolve disputes, manage conflict, and learn more productive
ways of communicating. Discussing an issue with the Office is not notice to the
University about the existence of a problem. The Office is located in Girvetz Hall
1205-K and can be reached at 893-3285. Visit www.ombuds.ucsb.edu
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is a form of sexual discrimination and is both illegal and prohibited
by the University. Sexual harassment can include: persistent and offensive personal
jokes and comments; unwanted physical contact such as patting, pinching, or hugging;
constant efforts to change a professional student-teacher relationship into an unwanted
romantic relationship; or explicit requests for sexual favors. The following offices
are available to assist you if you experience sexual harassment or have questions
about the definition, policy, and grievance procedures: Women's Center, 893-3778;
Ombuds, 893-3285; and Paula Rudolph, the Sexual Harassment Complaint Resolution
Officer/ Title IX Coordinator, Phelps Hall 3213; 893-2546. For additional policy
information and resource personnel, please go to www.shot9.ucsb.edu
Campus Regulations
Campus Regulations Applying to Campus Activities, Organizations, and Students address
the rights and responsibilities of student members of the University and provide
campus-wide standards of conduct. UCSB students are expected to conduct themselves
in a manner compatible with the University's function as an educational institution.
Students and registered campus organizations are subject to University discipline
for conduct that interferes with University teaching, research, or administrative
activities and for conduct that adversely affects either themselves or other members
of the academic community. Students are expected to comply with all local, state,
and federal laws. The complete text of Campus Regulations can be found at www.sa.ucsb.edu/regulations.
The web site contains information on academic and non-academic student conduct;
campus organizations; campus activities; university facilities; student government;
student elections; disciplinary bodies and procedures; violations and sanctions;
student rights; and student grievance procedures.
Extension of Jurisdiction
Under certain conditions Campus Regulations may apply to the privately-owned off-campus
residence halls (Tropicana Gardens and Fontainebleu) and some of the regulations
(physical abuse and threats of violence, including sexual assault; sexual harassment,
stalking and hazing) apply to UCSB students anywhere they may happen to be when
they commit these offenses.
Hate Incidents Response Coordinator
The campus Hate Incidents Response Coordinator is a Judicial Affairs staff member
charged with coordinating the campus response to hate and bias related incidents
and hate crimes involving the UCSB community. The coordinator works with other campus
offices to respond to hate incidents and crimes. If you, or someone you care about,
is the victim of a hate crime or incident, the Hate Incidents Response Coordinator
will explain your options and will work with you and other members of the UCSB community
to respond in a way that protects the rights and options of the victim(s) and promotes
a safe learning environment for all UCSB community members. The Hate Incident Response
Coordinator may also arrange programming on the nature of hate incidents and hate
crimes, state and federal hate crimes law and policy and campus free speech issues.
The Legal Resource Center
This service provides free legal consultation, information and education to all
UCSB undergraduate and graduate students. Legal advice is given on all types of
landlord/tenant matters and in the fields of criminal, family, consumer, contract,
and personal injury law. The staff includes experienced attorneys. Appointments
are available at 893-4246, but drop-ins are welcome. The office is located at 6550
Pardall Rd., Ste B (above GrafikArt, entry around back). Open M-F in the afternoons;
www.as.ucsb.edu/aslrc
Academic Conduct/Cheating
Joseph Navarro, Associate Dean of Students
SRB second floor; 893-4467
Office of Equal Opportunity/Office
Ricardo A. Alcaíno,
Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity
3217A Phelps Hall; (805) 893-4504.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Farfalla Borah, Coordinator
Cheadle Hall 4129; 893-2184
Conduct Educator/Hate Incidents Response Coordinator
Angie Tozier
Office of Student Life, SRB second floor; 893-4569
Disabled Students Program
Gary White, Director
SRB second floor; 893-2668 V/TDD
Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
Pete Villareal, Executive Director
SRB second Floor, Room 110; 893-3720
Graduate Division
Christian Villasenor, Assistant Dean
3117 Cheadle Hall, 893-7109
Office of the Ombuds
Priscilla Mori, Campus Ombuds
Girvetz 1205K, 893-3285
Resource Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity
Samuel Santos, Jr., Director
SRB third floor; 893-5846
Sexual Harassment Complaint Resolution Officer/Title IX Coordinator
Paula Rudolph
Phelps Hall 3211 and 3213; 893-2546
Student Affairs
Allyn Fleming or Michael Young
Cheadle Hall 5203B; 893-3651
Women's Center
Director
SRB first floor; 893-3778
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