6.10 Suspected Harassment or Discrimination Occurring at Field Placement

UC Berkeley is committed to ensuring that all individuals who participate in University programs and activities including field education can work and learn together in an atmosphere free of discrimination, harassment, exploitation, or intimidation. Unfortunately, these experiences can sometimes occur in field placement agencies or be perpetrated by agency employees.

A range of confidential services are available to students affected by these concerns including University Health Services (Tang Center), the campus Ombuds Office, the Student Advocate's Office, and the PATH to Care Center.

While students are strongly encouraged to report experiences of discrimination, harassment, exploitation, or intimidation to their assigned Field Consultant, all faculty and staff are considered by the university to be "responsible persons" who are required to report these experiences to the Office of Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD). OPHD is the campus authority responsible for ensuring the University provides an environment for all students, faculty, and staff that is free from discrimination, harassment, and sexual violence. OPHD takes and responds to reports alleging violations of University of California and UC Berkeley policies prohibiting protected category discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment and violence. 

When incidents of harassment or discrimination may have occurred in field placement, Field Consultants and students review the situation carefully and discuss options for a response to the situation that considers their safety, their educational needs and goals, OPHD guidelines, and the student's personal values and preferences. In some cases where a student has been harassed in an agency, OPHD may speak to an officer or official in that agency for cross-reporting purposes. In some circumstances, appropriate protections may be put in place so that the internship may proceed, and in other cases, the student may be placed in a different environment.