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What Should You do if You Feel That You Have Been Subjected to Discrimination or Harassment?

The University encourages individuals to resolve their concerns on an informal basis if possible. Problem-solving processes on campus are offered by various University offices, such as the Office of Institutional Equity, Office of Mediation Services for Faculty and Staff, Building Great Places to Work, the applicable Ombuds Office, the Office of the Dean of Students, the Office of the Dean of the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities, Academic Human Resources, Staff Human Resources, UM Flint University Human Resources, UM Dearborn University Human Resources, and Health System Human Resources. In addition, Unit Human Resources Officers can assist employees who believe they have been subjected to discrimination and/or harassment. Visitors to campus may contact any of the offices listed above to express concern regarding their visit to campus.

Additional resources for persons experiencing discrimination or harassment include:

• Center for the Education of Women
• Women of Color Task Force
• Association of Black Professionals, Administrators, Faculty and Staff
• Commission for Women
• Academic Women’s Caucus
• Business and Finance Diversity Committee
• Council for Disability Concerns
• Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs
• President’s Advisory Commission on Women’s Issues
• International Center
• Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center

Click here for contact information for these offices.

It is often difficult to confront a person who is engaging in discrimination or harassment. Such interaction is particularly difficult when the person engaging in discrimination or harassment holds actual or perceived power over the person at whom it is directed. There are occasions, however, when an individual feels able to speak to the person engaging in discrimination or harassment to tell that person that the behavior is offensive and to stop. This can be done in person, by telephone, email or letter, and may resolve the matter without further intervention. The offices identified immediately above are able to provide assistance at any time.

If informal attempts at resolution are not successful, or if a person does not want to explore an informal means by which to address the concerns, the University is committed to providing prompt and effective resolution to incidents of alleged discrimination or harassment. Persons who wish to pursue a complaint may do so by utilizing the applicable procedure.

If the complaint is against a student, the complaint may be lodged with the Office of Student Conflict Resolution or, for graduate students, with the Rackham School of Graduate Studies (click here for a list of additional resources).

If the complaint is against a faculty or staff member, the appropriate procedure for lodging discrimination and harassment complaints is the Standard Practice Guide (SPG) 201.8, Grievance Procedures and Dispute Resolution or, for sexual harassment, SPG 201.89, Sexual Harassment, unless an alternate mechanism is provided for in an applicable collective bargaining agreement.