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Policies, Procedures, & Codes of Conduct

Everyone at UCSC — students, faculty, and staff — has the right to a safe learning and working environment. Each of us plays a critical role in ensuring the university is a safe place and should know the rules of being part of the UCSC community. 

  1. UCSC is committed to fostering a community where everyone works and learns together in a place free of harassment, exploitation and intimidation.
  2. UCSC does not tolerate sexual violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking.
  3. Sexual violence violates both UC and UCSC policy as well as federal and state laws. UCSC will respond promptly to reports of sexual violence and take appropriate action to prevent it and when necessary, take disciplinary action.
  4. Incoming undergraduate and graduate students are required to complete two sexual violence and sexual harassment prevention trainings in their first year. Continuing students are required to complete training yearly. Faculty and staff are required to take sexual harassment training every two years. 

UCSC policies and codes of conduct spell out the rights and responsibilities of students and employees in ensuring that UC is a safe environment, and how the university addresses reports of sexual violence and sexual harassment. 

State and Federal Laws

UCSC complies with state and federal laws related to sexual violence: 

  • Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex under any federally funded education program. Under Title IX, sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence, is a form of unlawful sex discrimination. Schools that receive federal financial assistance must take steps to prevent sexual harassment and sexual assault, and promptly and effectively respond to reports of sexual harassment and sexual assault.
  • The Clery Act requires colleges and universities that participate in federal financial aid programs to share information about crime on campus and their efforts to improve campus safety as well as inform the public of crime in or around campus. This information is made available each year through the university's Annual Security Report.
  • SB 967 (DeLeón, Chapter 748, Statutes of 2014), the “Yes Means Yes” state bill, requires colleges and universities to adopt certain policies on sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, such as an affirmative definition of consent and a preponderance of evidence standard.
  • AB 1433 (Gatto, Chapter 798, Statutes of 2014), requires campus security authorities (as defined by the Clery Act) who receive reports of sexual assault, to report the incident immediately, or as soon as practicably possible, to the campus police department; the victim’s name will be reported only with the victim’s consent and after the victim has been informed of his/her right to have his/her name withheld.

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