What We Do

Building and maintaining a diverse workforce and an equitable work environment... and making every effort to provide a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment, are essential steps toward fulfilling our moral, ethical and legal obligations.
– Chancellor Birgeneau, 7.31.2007

The Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD) Office is responsible for ensuring the University provides an environment for faculty, staff and students that is free from discrimination and harassment on the basis of categories including race, color national origin, gender, age and sexual orientation/identity.

The OPHD Office has the specific responsibility for providing prompt and effective responses to all complaints of sex discrimination or harassment for faculty, staff and students. The Office also responds to concerns from faculty and students regarding other forms of discrimination as covered by University Nondiscrimination policies-- such as, age, religion, national origin, etc.*

The OPHD Office works in collaboration with the system-wide Office of the President, offering both online and in person workshops to fulfill requirements under California State law to provide two hours of sexual harassment prevention education every two years to faculty, managers and supervisors. Further, the Office provides opportunities to staff employees and students, for education regarding issues of discrimination, equity, and the impacts of discrimination and unequal treatment on department and classroom climate.

Key University of California Office of the President and Berkeley Campus Policies for your reference:

• University Nondiscrimination Policies
• Berkeley Campus Policy on Sexual Harassment and Complaint Resolution Procedures.
• Berkeley Campus Student Policy and Procedures Regarding Sexual Assault and Rape.
• Code of Student Conduct
  
• Faculty Code of Conduct

* The Officer of Human Resources handles non-academic staff complaints of discrimination as outlined in personnel policies and contracts. The Academic Compliance and Disability Standards Office handles disability complaints from all faculty, staff and students.

"While we are not responsible for the harassment, we are responsible for our response to it."
Brett Solokow, President
National Council Higher Education Risk Management

We hope it doesn't happen to you, but if it does, please be sure to contact us for guidance before responding to a concern.
Nancy Chu, 643-7985
Denise Oldham, 642-6020
Maria Padilla, 643-9707