Grievance

Welcome to the Grievance Division!

All student grievances not covered by the other three divisions, including DSP accommodations, discrimination, sexual violence, non-traditional student concerns, and more.

Other Information

If you have experienced gendered violence, including (but not necessarily limited to): sexual harassment, dating and intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and/or sexual exploitation, there are many ways to access support services:

If you are in immediate danger, or if this is a medical emergency – Dial 9-1-1
Use the C.A.R.E bystander intervention model if you are offering support.
Identify an advocate – this person will be able to provide support, connections to various campus & community resources, and can assist you if you decide to report. These are the confidential advocacy resources on campus:
1. The PATH to Care Center provides affirming, empowering, and confidential support for survivors and those who have experienced gendered violence.
2. Counseling and Psychological Services at the UHS Tang Center offers short-term counseling, crisis drop-in, group workshops, and consultation. Students do not have to be enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) to see a counselor.
3. The Family Violence Law Center in Oakland provides free legal assistance to a diverse community in Alameda County recovering from domestic violence and sexual assault.
Talk to your advocate about whether or not reporting the incident is the right choice for you – healing looks different for everyone. If you choose to report, here are the campus resources:
1. The University of California Police Department (UCPD)
2. The Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD)
3. Gender Equity Resource Center (GenEq) – IMPORTANT: employees of GenEq are defined responsible employees of the university and are required to report incidences of SVSH

IMPORTANT: At NO POINT should you be asked to disclose the details of your disability to any staff or faculty of the university [other than your specialist], and attempts to coerce an individual to do so are considered discrimination. This pertains to your right to medical privacy.

Already registered with the Disabled Student’s Program (DSP)?

Meet with your DSP specialist to make changes to your accommodations or to request a Reduced Course Load (RCL); IMPORTANT: RCLs are granted semesterly, and need to be re-approved in person by your specialist every semester.
Request your letters immediately at the beginning of instruction for each semester.
1. Visit the DSP website, and click ‘student login’ in the top right-hand corner.
2. Visit your instructors in person to confirm their receipt and understanding of your specific accommodations, as outlined by your DSP specialist.
If you are experiencing difficulty accessing your accommodations, or are experiencing discrimination on the basis of your disability:
1. Document that you have been denied your DSP accommodations via email. It is very important to include both the faculty/staff involved and your DSP specialist on this email.
2. Contact the University’s Policy, Complaint, and Special Project Manager while including the faculty/staff involved and your DSP specialist on all email correspondence.
  1. Steve Johnston | (510) 697-9313 | stevejohnston@berkeley.edu
3. If you are still experiencing issues accessing your approved accommodations, you may have grounds to file a formal grievance,

Looking to register with the Disabled Student’s Program?

Prepare to enroll with the Disabled Students Program by gathering all of the necessary supporting documentation needed to verify your disability.
1. IMPORTANT: UHS Tang can provide disability verification for students enrolled in SHIP, and in some circumstances Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) can provide verification of psychological disability for students without SHIP
Begin the Disabled Student’s Program Application Process online.
Once your application has been submitted, you MUST schedule an intake appointment by calling the DSP receptionist; if necessary, an advocate can assist you during this call. | (510) 642-0518
During your intake, you will meet your assigned DSP specialist who will further assist you.

You should consider filing a graduate appeal if you have a complaint regarding:

Dismissal from graduate standing;
Placement on probationary status;
Denial of readmission to your program;
Disputes regarding joint authorship of research;
Other administrative or academic decisions that terminate, or otherwise impede, progress towards your academic or professional degree goals.

For more information about how to file, read the Graduate Appeals Procedure.

IMPORTANT: Appeal procedures can vary between departments.

Please consider attempts at informal resolution before completing and filing the Graduate Appeals Procedure Form.

If you would like to file a complaint about the UC Police Department (UCPD):

Start by reading the UCPD Complaint Process.
1. IMPORTANT: The time limit for filing a complaint is 30 calendar days from the date of the alleged incident. Sexual harassment allegations will be accepted up to 90 calendar days after the alleged incident.
To go forward with your complaint, fill out the Citizen Complaint Form. Forms can also be obtained & filed at any of the following locations:
1. The Police Review Board | 200 California Hall |510-642-3100
2. UCPD | #1 Sproul Hall | 510-642-6760
3. ASUC Student Advocate’s Office* | 412B Eshleman Hall | 510-642-6912
4. LEAD Center | 432 Eshleman Hall | 510-642-5171
5. OPHD | 2111 Bancroft Way Suite 300 | 510-643-7985
6. Office of Community Relations | 2130 Center Street | 510-643-5299

*The Student Advocate’s Office is the only confidential resource listed by UCPD where you can receive the Citizen Complaint Form, and assistance completing/filing it.

For more information, please contact us directly.

If you have been the victim of a Hate Crime:

If you are in immediate danger, or if this is a medical emergency – Dial 9-1-1.
Document the incident to the best of your ability; consider contacting a support person.
Seek help from multicultural campus resources such as the Campus Climate Office, or the Division of Equity and Inclusion.
Decide whether or not to report the incident to campus officials, or another reporting agency:
1. Report an Incident – UC, Berkeley – Division of Equity & Inclusion
2. The University of California Police Department (UCPD)
3. University of California’s Systemwide Intolerance Report Form