Following are policies related to student conduct, cheating, sexual harassment, and student grievances.

Student Conduct

When you enroll in the University, you assume an obligation to conduct yourself in a manner compatible with the University's function as an educational institution. Rules concerning student conduct, student organizations, use of University facilities, and related matters are set forth in both University policies and campus regulations, copies of which are available at the Campus Life and Leadership, 102 Sproul Hall; and the Office of Student Conduct, 326 Sproul Hall. You should pay particular attention to the Berkeley Campus Regulations Implementing University Policies and the Berkeley Campus Code of Student Conduct.

Cheating or Plagiarism

Achievement and proficiency in subject matter include your realization that neither is to be achieved by cheating. An instructor has the right to give you an F on a single assignment produced by cheating without determining whether you have a passing knowledge of the relevant factual material. That is an appropriate academic evaluation for a failure to understand or abide by the basic rules of academic study and inquiry. An instructor has the right to assign a final grade of F for the course if you plagiarized a paper for a portion of the course, even if you have successfully and, presumably, honestly passed the remaining portion of the course. It must be understood that any student who knowingly aids in plagiarism or other cheating, e.g., allowing another student to copy a paper or examination question, is as guilty as the cheating student.

Sexual Harassment Policy

The Berkeley campus actively supports the official policy of the University of California on sexual harassment, which states: "The University of California is committed to creating and maintaining a community in which students, faculty, and administrative and academic staff can work together in an atmosphere free of all forms of harassment, exploitation, or intimidation, including sexual. Specifically, every member of the University community should be aware that the University is strongly opposed to sexual harassment and that such behavior is prohibited both by law and by University policy. It is the intention of the University to take whatever action may be needed to prevent, correct, and, if necessary, discipline behavior which violates this policy."

The campus has a special complaint procedure designed to facilitate prompt and confidential resolution of sexual harassment complaints. If you believe that you have been a victim of sexual harassment, have questions about the definition of sexual harassment or about the special complaint procedure, or have questions about the interrelationship between the special complaint procedure and other campus procedures, you may address your inquiries to the Title IX Compliance Officer, (510) 643-7985. Copies of the procedure are available in 200 California Hall.

Sexual Harassment/Assault Advocacy and Education Program

The Sexual Harassment/Assault Advocacy and Education Program, coordinated by the campus Gender Equity Resource Center, provides educational workshops for student groups and confidential advocacy and support for individuals who may have experienced harassment or an assault. Short-term crisis intervention counseling is also available. For further information, call (510) 642-4786. University Health Services also offers sexual assault prevention workshops ((510) 642-7202), immediate response to sexual assault ((510) 642-6074), and services for recent survivors and those working to recover from a past assault.

Student Grievance Procedure

The Berkeley campus Student Grievance Procedure (Appendix II to the Berkeley Campus Regulations Implementing University Policies) gives you an opportunity to resolve complaints alleging discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, handicap, age, and sexual orientation. You may also use the procedure to resolve any complaints you may have alleging that any other rules or policies of the Berkeley campus were inappropriately applied and resulted in an injury to you. The procedure is not applicable to certain kinds of complaints for which other appropriate appeals procedures exist, such as a grade appeal based on the application of nonacademic criteria. (See "Appeal of Grades in Courses and Examinations" for a description of the grade appeal process.) The procedure contains important time limitations and provisions about the interrelationship between this procedure and other campus complaint procedures. Copies of the procedure are available in 102 Sproul Hall.

Graduate students should consult the Graduate Division for information about grievance procedures.

Graduate Student Appeals

Through the Graduate Appeal Procedure, graduate students have the right to appeal academic or administrative decisions that have resulted in termination of their graduate status or have interfered with their progress toward a degree.

Students should first initiate an appeal at the administrative level at which the disputed action took place. The Graduate Council requires each instructional unit to maintain copies of its current internal appeal procedure for information and use by its graduate students. If the action occurred in the student's department, the department must make all reasonable efforts at informal and formal resolution, as stated in the Graduate Appeal Procedure, before the student may take the matter to the next level, which is the Graduate Division. Students may also consult with the Ombuds for Students at (510) 642-5754 for assistance with informal resolution.  

Students who are not satisfied with the outcome of attempts to resolve the source of the grievance in their home units may submit an appeal to the Graduate Division, after carefully following the guidelines of the Graduate Appeal Procedure. The Graduate Appeal Procedure and the Graduate Appeal Procedure Form are available from the Graduate Services: Degrees and the Graduate Division web site at www.grad.berkeley.edu/policies/forms.shtml.