Dear UCLA Graduate Students,
The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is currently reviewing the University of California, Los Angeles' compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, known as "Title IX." Title IX prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual harassment. Sexual violence, such as rape, and sexual assault, battery, and coercion, is a form of sexual harassment. Universities are required to respond promptly and effectively to address sexual harassment, including sexual violence, and also to take certain steps to prevent it.
OCR staff will be on the UCLA campus April 28-30, 2015 to hear from students. OCR plans to speak with certain student groups during pre-scheduled meetings. OCR also invites all students to drop in and meet with OCR staff during office hours.
I am writing to you because OCR has scheduled focus groups for Graduate students at the following times:
Teacher Assistants-Wed, April 29 at 9:00 a.m. in the Wooden Center - Main Conference Room
Teacher Assistants-Wed, April 29 at 11:00 a.m. in the Wooden Center - Main Conference Room
Female Graduate Students-Wed, April 29 at 10:00 a.m. in the Wooden Center - Main Conference Room
Female Graduate Students-Wed, April 29 at 3:00 p.m. in the Wooden Center - Main Conference Room
Male Graduate Students-Wed, April 29 at 2:00 p.m. in the Wooden Center - Main Conference Room
I encourage you to attend this meeting, as OCR specifically hopes to hear from graduate students.
OCR staff will gather information to help them understand the campus climate with respect to sexual violence, UCLA's preventative measures, and how UCLA responds to notice of possible sexual violence. OCR welcomes students to share their experiences, impressions, and ideas. All information students share during these meetings will be anonymous, as OCR will not be recording any student names.
All students are invited. Please consider attending one of the meetings or office hours. Click http://www.sexualviolence.ucla.edu/Civil-Rights-Campus-Visit for OCR's full meeting and office hour schedule.
If you have any questions regarding these meetings, please contact the UCLA Title IX office by phone at (310) 206-3417, or by email at TitleIX@conet.ucla.edu.
If you would like to learn more about sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention resources at UCLA, please visit:
http://www.sexualviolence.ucla.edu/
http://www.counseling.ucla.edu/care
If you are unable to come to office hours while OCR is on campus or would like to make other arrangements, please contact OCR. OCR will be available on an ongoing basis before and after this onsite visit to speak with you by phone at (415) 486-5555, or by email at ocr.sanfrancisco@ed.gov.
Christine H. Wilson, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Graduate Programs and First Year Experience
Co-Program Director, UCLA M.Ed. in Student Affairs
ph: (310) 267-4803
fax: (310) 794-7854