Climate Resources
The first half of this webpage covers who to contact in the event of an issue related to a negative work or learning environment in the department. The second half provides links for those needing additional support. To jump directly to the second half click here.
Contents
(And what will they do with the information you share?)
There are several contacts in the department who might be appropriate. We’ve given a series of examples to help guide your decision of who to talk to (these examples are mostly written for graduate students). After that follows list of contacts in the department. Then, depending on whether you are a graduate student, faculty, or staff, we’ve given a general priority list of who to contact by default.
There is also a list of contacts outside the department. An outside resource everyone should be aware of is the Ombuds office, which provides informal and confidential advice for most situations. When in doubt, ask an ombudsperson! Meanwhile, the OICRC has a great deal of information on reporting discrimination and harassment, and has many additional resources.
Apart from the department head and department manager, all faculty and many staff members are “assisting employees,” meaning that in cases of sexual or gender-based discrimination or harassment, they will only relay information to the administration if the student disclosing the information asks that it be reported, except in cases where there is imminent risk of serious harm to someone, or a minor is involved. The department head, department manager, and some other staff members are “designated reporters,” meaning that they are required to report to the administration any information disclosed to them about sexual or gender-based harassment, discrimination, as well as other prohibited conduct. The employees at the Ombuds office are confidential employees. Unless what you say indicates that there is an imminent risk of serious harm to you or other people, everything you say to the ombudsperson remains confidential. Even the fact that you visited the ombudsperson is confidential.
Examples
Here are a range of scenarios, some with clear elements of harassment and discrimination, some involving hostile work environment, and some a bit more nebulous. Each example is followed by people that you might contact first; but there is no requirement that you go to these people first, and your choice might be governed by other factors.
- Your pre-PhD advisor has not seemed supportive in the past, and as a result you don’t feel comfortable talking to them about some academic issues you are struggling with.
Talk to the director of graduate studies. (Note that you are welcome to change pre-PhD advisors at any time!)
- A fellow graduate student in one of your classes routinely jumps in and talks over other people who are speaking, making the classroom environment uncomfortable.
Maybe talk to the teacher in the course. But then the director of graduate studies or department head.
- A student or teacher in one of your courses occasionally makes jokes that seem a little sexist.
The assistant department head, or director of graduate studies, or department head. Jokes that are even “a little” sexist should definitely not be happening and are almost certainly prohibited behavior, so this scenario could be quite serious.
- You often overhear a GE in the office next to yours speaking to undergraduate students in a way that seems derogatory, and using language not appropriate to the workplace.
The assistant department head or department head, since this is most related to GE work rather than academics.
- You go to a colloquium dinner and during the conversation someone makes a comment that is disparaging to minorities.
Seminar dinners qualify as work events, and so comments over dinner are governed by UO workplace rules. This scenario brings up issues of harassment, discrimination, and hostile workplace. So probably the assistant department head or department head.
- A graduate student in your office often makes comments to you that seem somewhat condescending and rude.
This is an issue of hostile work environment, and so is quite serious. So the assistant department head, or department head.
- A teacher in one of your courses mentions one day that in his experience men tend to be more successful at mathematics research than women.
Resources inside the Department
Contacts primarily for GEs
- Director of Graduate Studies (DGS)
The DGS is the primary contact for graduate student academics, and issues involving the learning environment. Depending on the issue, they may consult with the Department Head, though generally they may ask the student first whether they want the involvement of the Department Head.
- Any faculty member you feel comfortable with
As noted above, apart from the department head, faculty are assisting employees.”
- Any member of the Student Advisory Committee (current members: Kristen Henderson and David Steinberg)
The Student Advisory Committee consists of career instructors who have volunteered to be contacts, if you don’t feel comfortable talking to tenure-track faculty about your situation.
Contacts for everyone
- Department Head (currently Nick Proudfoot)
Directly supervises faculty, ultimate supervisor of GEs. Primary contact for serious issues, or issues which involve the director of graduate studies.
Unlike other faculty, the department head is a “designated reporter.”
- Assistant Department Head (currently Mike Price)
Direct supervisor of graduate employees. Primary contact for anything related to graduate employee teaching or work assignments. Not a designated reporter.
- ASU Director (currently Tim McGovney)
Coordinates all departmental issues around personnel and human resources.
Unlike most staff, the department manager is a “designated reporter.”
If you’re a graduate student:
The first point of contact for academic-related issues is typically the Director of Graduate Studies, although you should feel welcome to talk to any faculty member you feel comfortable with. Our department also has a Student Advisory Committee, consisting of non-tenure-track faculty who are available to discuss graduate student concerns. For serious issues, or if the issue involves the Director of Graduate Studies, contact the Department Head or Assistant Department Head. The Department Head is a designated reporter, while the Assistant Department Head is not. If you don’t feel comfortable going to the Department Head or they are involved in the issue, one can go directly to the (vice-provost of the) Division of Graduate Studies (recent change: there is no longer a Dean of the Graduate School). For any issue, one should not forget the option provided by the Ombuds Office. This paragraph continues here.
If you’re staff:
Your first point of contact is the ASU Director, and you can also contact the Department Head. If your issue involves these standard contacts or you don’t feel comfortable going to them, one can go high up the structure of command. directly to the Associate Dean for Finance and Administration (currently Sherri Nelson). For any issue, one should not forget the option provided by the Ombuds Office. This paragraph continues here.
If you’re faculty:
Your first point of contact is typically the Department Head. If you don’t feel comfortable going to the Department Head or they are involved in the issue, one can go directly to the Divisional Dean of Natural Sciences (currently Hal Sadofsky) or to the Dean of Faculty (previously Karen Ford, currently vacant. In the interim, perhaps going directly to the office of the Tykeson Dean makes sense). For any issue, one should not forget the option provided by the Ombuds Office. This paragraph continues here.
For everyone:
Other options for reporting grievances more formally or for seeking advice can be found under outside resources . It would probably be best to contact the Department Head, the appropriate Dean, or the Ombuds office first, or at least concurrently.
Counseling and Health services would be an appropriate place to contact to get assistance with the impacts of the issue. See here for more supportive resources.
Resources Outside the Department
- Ombuds Program, ombuds.uoregon.edu
The Ombuds Program has a strong reputation on campus for having extremely competent staff. They are confidential employees, and are the first place to go outside of the department for informal advice on what to do next. From their website:
“People visit the ombudsperson for many reasons. They may want to have a confidential conversation with someone who has an impartial perspective and no organizational allegiance to any university department, for example. Or they might like help thinking through (or practicing) a non-escalating approach for dealing directly with an issue. Or they may be uncertain about taking a matter through other university channels because of reporting or other concerns.
“Whatever your reason for visiting, the ombudsperson will not tell you what to do and will not take action against your wishes. Rather, the ombudsperson will talk you through strategies, options, and resources for addressing your concern. Additionally, unless what you say indicates that there is an imminent risk of serious harm to you or other people, everything you say to the ombudsperson remains confidential. Even the fact that you visited the ombudsperson is confidential.”
- Dean’s office.
Graduate Students, Staff, and Faculty have three separate places to go if they need to go above the department. For faculty and staff, the various deans can be found here and were discussed above. The Division of Graduate Studies, and in particular, the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies (currently Krista Chronister), is one place for GEs to go if they need to go above the department head (say, if the issue involves the department head).
- Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance (OICRC), investigations.uoregon.edu
This is an important resource. For formal reporting of discrimination or harassments or gender-based misconduct, please see their detailed website. They also maintain a list of resources for victims of harassment and discrimination.
- 24-hour support hotline for victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault
541-346-SAFE
- One can file grievances through one’s union. For GEs, this would be the GTFF. For Staff, this would be the SEIU. For faculty, this would be United Academics.
- There are several other options for formal reporting of policy violations not listed here, like HR or the Title IX office. It would probably be best to contact the Department Head, the appropriate Dean, or the Ombuds office first.
If you seek additional support, where do you go?
- Counseling and Health services, https://counseling.uoregon.edu/There are many helpful links from this website. Of particular note is the Crisis Support page, which has the phone numbers for crisis situations.
- The OICRC maintains this list of resources.
- Care and Advocacy program, https://dos.uoregon.edu/help. The Care and Advocacy program provides additional support for those suffering disruptions of any sort which affect their ability to focus on academics. They also reach out to students for whom someone has expressed concern. To report a concern, see here. They also provide supporting services to respondents (those who have been accused of sexual misconduct, etcetera), see here.
- For resources related to stress management, see the Duck Nest.
- The UO has an Employee Assistance Program.
- 24-hour support hotline for victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault
541-346-SAFE