Prohibited Discrimination and Retaliation Policy
This policy applies to students, employees, and other members of the campus community, sets forth all protected characteristics under university policy, defines prohibited conduct, including discrimination, harassment, and sex-based harassment, and expressly prohibits retaliation against those who file a formal complaint or participate in a formal university process.
The policy also clearly identifies employees by their reporting obligations:
- Designated Reporters: All employees with the exception of Confidential Employees and Student Employees are Designated Reporters. Graduate Employees, Resident Assistants, and Orientation Leaders are Designated Reporters. Members of the Board of Trustees are also Designated Reporters. Designated Reporters must report allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation to the Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance.
- Confidential Employees have a professional obligation to not disclose information shared with them and are expected to keep disclosures confidential. The following Employees are Confidential Employees under the Prohibited Discrimination and Retaliation Policy:
- All health care and mental health professionals working at the University of Oregon, including without limitation employees at University Health Services and in Athletics Medicine;
- Care and Advocacy Program staff;
- Employees designated as Confidential Employees by the University;
- Employees conducting an Institutional Review Board-approved human-subjects study designed to gather information about sex discrimination, but only while conducting an approved study;
- The university’s Ombudsperson and program staff (Note: The Ombudsperson does not have a legal privilege of confidentiality, but under their professional code of ethics the Ombudsperson must take steps to avoid, whenever possible, disclosure of confidential records and information);
- Employee and contract attorneys representing students in Student Conduct processes;
- Other employees who have a professional commitment and/or legal privilege that may enable them to oppose successfully an application for a court order seeking disclosure of communications, but only when acting in that professional capacity;
- Employees in colleges and departments designated as Confidential Employees.
- Student Employees: Upon receipt of a disclosure of Discriminatory Misconduct, student employees except for Designated Reporters (i.e., Graduate Employees, Resident Assistants, and Orientation Leaders), must do one of the following:
- Consult with their supervisor about the appropriate steps to take without revealing the name of the person who made the disclosure;
- Consult with a Confidential Advocate in the Dean of Students Office;
- Ask the person making the disclosure whether they want to report to OICRC;
- Ask the person making the disclosure whether they want to speak with a Confidential Advocate in the Dean of Students Office.
When determining whether a policy violation has occurred, OICRC will use the policy in place at the time the conduct at issue is alleged to have occurred.
Previous Prohibited Discrimination and Retaliation Policy effective August 16, 2021 to July 31, 2024
Oregon Administrative Rule Chapter 580, Division 15 – Discrimination
Oregon Administrative Rule Chapter 571, Division 3 – Grievance Procedures
Conflicts of Interest and Abuses of Power: Sexual, Physically Intimate, or Romantic Relationships with Students
This policy addresses sexual, physically intimate, or romantic relationships between employees and students, where the employee has or may have power or authority over a student. It is the responsibility of employees — not students — to comply with the policy, which is meant to foster a learning environment characterized by professional behavior and fair and impartial treatment.
Student Conduct Code
The University of Oregon Student Conduct Code ensures your rights as a student are protected. While you’re entitled to respect and civility, you also have responsibilities to the campus community. The code outlines these responsibilities and the university’s expectations for your behavior as a UO student. The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards serves the important role of upholding the standards of the university community through the administration of an educational and student-centered conduct process. In this process, the SCCS educates students about self-accountability, social responsibility, and academic integrity.
OICRC will use the Student Conduct Code in place at the time the conduct at issue is alleged to have occurred. Previous versions of Student Conduct Code:
Student Conduct Code effective September 12, 2023 - present
Student Conduct Code effective December 6, 2022 – September 11, 2023
Student Conduct Code effective August 15, 2020 — August 14, 2021
Student Conduct Code effective May 23, 2019 – August 14, 2020
Student Conduct Code effective March 5, 2019 – May 22, 2019
Student Conduct Code effective December 10, 2018 – March 4, 2019
Student Conduct Code effective June 19, 2018 – December 9, 2018
Student Conduct Code effective June 4, 2015 – June 18, 2018
Student Conduct Code effective September 11, 2014 – June 3, 2015
Protection of Minors
This policy intends to outline responsibilities related to the protection of minors at the university. Employees are mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect by law.
Religious Observances
Upon request, the university will make reasonable accommodations for students who are unable to attend a class due to a religious observance. For more information or to request a religious accommodation, visit the Office of the Registrar's website.
Employees may request religious accommodations by contacting Employee and Labor Relations. More information can be found on the Human Resources website.
General Statement on Protecting Privacy
The Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance makes every effort to protect the privacy of those who participate in the investigation and resolution process by limiting the number of people who may access information gathered throughout the complaint resolution process. For more information, please see the Title IX Coordinator’s notice of privacy practices.