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About Us

The Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD) is responsible for ensuring the University provides an environment for faculty, students, patients and staff that is free from sexual violence and sexual harassment (SVSH) and all forms of discrimination and harassment on the basis of protected categories, including:

  • Race
  • Religion
  • Gender Expression
  • Pregnancy
  • Age
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Genetic Information (including family medical history)
  • Color
  • Sex
  • Gender Identity
  • Ancestry
  • Physical or Mental Disability
  • Service in the uniformed services, including protected veterans
  • National Origin
  • Gender
  • Marital Status
  • Citizenship
  • Gender Transition Status
  • Medical Condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics)

UC San Francisco prohibits discrimination against any person on the basis of their protected class status whether they are a patient, student, employed by or seeking employment with the University.

To ensure that UCSF is a safe, inclusive community to receive care, study, and work, OPHD:

  • Monitors compliance with the UC Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment and the UC Policy on Discrimination, Harassment, and Affirmative Action in the Workplace
  • Responds to concerns from students, patients, faculty and staff regarding behaviors that may constitute violations of these policies
  • Assists campus departments to pursue best practices in fostering a discrimination-free climate.
  • Collaborates with the Office for Diversity and Outreach to provide tailored training to prevent discrimination, promote equity and support UCSF departments in addressing the potential impact on academic and employment environments when an incident has taken place.
  • Responds to complaints filed with outside agencies including the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the Office of Civil Rights (OCR).
  • Compiles data for the annual affirmative action and organizational analysis. Assists departments in adhering to diversity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action guidelines during faculty and staff recruitment process

Confidentiality

OPHD is an office of record with responsibilities to prevent and respond to discrimination and SVSH. As such, OPHD cannot guarantee absolute confidentiality. While a complainant's wishes regarding confidentiality will be considered, they must be balanced against the University's responsibility to respond to reports and the rights of the accused to be informed of the allegations against them, including their source.

The University will limit disclosures to what is reasonably necessary to conduct a fair investigation and determine appropriate disciplinary recommendations and ensure campus safety.

If you are unsure as to how to proceed and want to discuss your concerns prior to filing a formal complaint, you can consult with the following confidential resources:

Reporting potential incidents of discrimination to CARE and the Office of the Ombuds does not put the University on notice and will not trigger an OPHD response. Anyone who wants to “put the University on notice” should contact the OPHD Office to initiate this process.

Reporting a Complaint

If you believe you may be experiencing discrimination in employment, you should contact OPHD. For more information on how to report, visit OPHD’s complaint page here.