The English Department is committed to promoting a culture of equity and inclusion, in which every member of the community is treated with respect and consideration, and no harassment or hostility on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability, or religion is tolerated. There are several resources both at the departmental and university levels devoted to this task.
Campus-wide information can be found at the UC Berkeley Diversity website, which includes a list of DEI programs and services for students, staff, and faculty. At the website of the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD), you can find a comprehensive list of university policies geared towards preventing and responding to misconduct.
As with most academic units on campus, the English Department has a designated Faculty Equity Officer who is happy to meet with any member of the community to discuss matters related to equity and inclusion. You can also contact the Department Chair, Undergraduate Advisor, or Graduate Advisor.
For the past two years, the English Department has participated in a multi-campus UC initiative titled DEI Blueprint intended to foster a healthy academic climate at all levels. We invite all members of the department to participate in the programming accompanying this project and to complete the final survey in Spring 2024. In addition, we invite students to find community in the English Graduate Association, the Graduate Students of Color affinity group, the English Undergraduate Association, and the undergraduate group Students of Color Emerging in English, all of which provide important opportunities for social networking, mentorship, and intellectual growth.
While we hope that everyone will be committed to the values of collegiality and mutual respect, even in a generally well-functioning community there can be incidents of discrimination and harassment. If you experience or witness any such incident, you can expect to be heard sympathetically by any member of the faculty or staff.
Faculty and staff have an obligation to report to OPHD any conduct prohibited under the University’s Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment (SVSH) policy. The same applies to GSIs, if an undergraduate reports to them in their capacity as GSI. Prohibited conduct includes sexual violence and sexual harassment, stalking, relationship violence, and retaliation. The full SVSH policy provides details.
In many cases the PATH to Care Center—a confidential resource that is NOT obligated to report misconduct to OPHD—is a natural first place to contact to discuss options. Its phone number is: (510) 642-1988.
University policy prohibits retaliation against those who report incidents of harassment, intimidation, or violence, and against those who participate in the resolution of complaints of this nature.
Additional Campus Resources:
Centers for Educational Justice and Community Engagement
Counseling and Psychological Services
Graduate Division’s Guide for Student Parents