Reporting and resolution resources

Students who have concerns about mistreatment in the learning environment (classroom or clinical setting) or with any educator or staff should visit the Learning Environment website.

Please remember that as a student of the University of Washington, you are always protected under UW Executive Order No. 81, regardless of where you might be geographically when participating in a clerkship:

The University is committed to fostering an environment in which all members of its community can participate fully in University programs and activities free from discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and retaliation. This order establishes the University’s standards for preventing and responding to such conduct, including compliance with applicable federal and state laws, which include but are not limited to:

• Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,
• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and Jeanne Clery Act,
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act,
• Washington State Civil Rights Initiative (I-200), and
• Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD).

Statement of Nondiscrimination: The University prohibits discrimination in all programs and activities, including education, employment, and patient care, based on an individual’s actual or perceived protected characteristics. Protected characteristics include race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Upon learning of conduct that may constitute discrimination, the University will take prompt and effective action to address it, remedy its effects, and prevent recurrence.

For more information, please visit the UW Executive Order No. 81 webpage.

UW SafeCampus

UW SafeCampus is the University of Washington’s violence-prevention and response program. They support students, staff, faculty and community members in preventing violence and will listen to your concerns and provide guidance and safety plans tailored to your situation. Their caring, trained professionals will talk you through options and connect you with additional resources if you want them. Call SafeCampus at 206-685-7233 anytime — no matter where you work or study — to anonymously discuss safety and well-being concerns for yourself or others. (Note: In urgent or dangerous situations, always call 911 first.)

We encourage students who experience sex- or gender-based violence, harassment, or discrimination to contact UW SafeCampus, which affords a safe reporting environment. They will provide information about your rights, available resources, and reporting options.

Office of the Ombud

The Office of the Ombud is a confidential, neutral resource, where students, faculty, and staff can seek information, consultation, and assistance for any professional challenges that they are facing at the University of Washington. The UW Ombud’s mission is to provide high quality, client-focused services for preventing, managing, and resolving conflict at this university. Through active participation in the problem-solving process, clients develop the ability to prevent, manage, and resolve future conflicts. This resource is available to all medical students regardless of their physical location across WWAMI.

Click here to make an appointment for a consultation with the Office of the Ombud.

Contact phone: 206.543.6028
Contact email: ombuds@uw.edu
Website: https://www.washington.edu/ombud/

Student Legal Services

Student Legal Services (SLS) provides a safe and confidential space for all UW-Seattle students who have legal questions or concerns. SLS offers free 40-minute consultations on a broad range of issues. Students can also hire SLS for ongoing representation for a low hourly rate.

Location: HUB 306
Contact phone: 206.543.6028
Contact email: slsuw@uw.edu
Website: depts.washington.edu/slsuw

Reporting Bias Incidents

UW Civil Rights & Title IX Reporting Form

The UW Civil Rights Compliance Office (CRC) is responsible for compliance with civil rights laws and University policy. Federal and state laws collectively prohibit discrimination based on protected characteristics, including age, citizenship, disability, national origin or shared ancestry, race, sex, gender, veteran status, and more.

From the UW Civil Rights Compliance Office’s ‘Make a Report’ webpage:

“The University encourages reporting to provide support and resources, offer resolution options, stop the conduct, prevent its recurrence, and remedy its effects. If you or someone you know has experienced or becomes aware of possible discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct, you are encouraged to make a Civil Rights & Title IX Report.

The Civil Rights & Title IX Reporting Form is the UW’s central reporting form for concerns that may violate federal and state nondiscrimination laws. These laws prohibit sexual misconduct, and discrimination and harassment based on protected characteristics.”

UW Medicine Bias Reporting Tool (BRT)

From the UW Medicine Bias Reporting website:

“UW Medicine is an organization that embraces diversity, advances equity, and fosters inclusion and collaboration. We are a community that expects support and respect at all levels. The Bias Reporting Tool is for sharing incidents of bias of any form, including but not limited to experiences of racial bias/racism, sexism, ableism, or other actions, behaviors, or processes that do not reflect the prioritization of inclusion and equity expected in all areas of our community.” (Reports may be made anonymously.)

UW Medicine Bias Reporting Tool (BRT)

Hazing Prevention, Reporting, and Education

From the UW’s Hazing Prevention and Response website:

“The University of Washington prohibits student organizations and athletic teams from engaging individually or collectively in hazing activities.

Hazing includes any act committed as part of a person’s recruitment, initiation into, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a student organization, athletic team, or living group, or any pastime that is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student. This includes causing, directing, coercing, or forcing a person to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance that subjects the person to risk of such harm, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate (H.B. 1751).”

Reporting Hazing

All employees and volunteers at the University of Washington, including student employees, should report hazing if, as a result of observations or information received in the course of employment or volunteer service, any employee has reasonable cause to believe that hazing has occurred. “Reasonable cause” means a person who witnesses hazing or receives a credible written or oral report alleging hazing or a potential or planned hazing activity.

To report being subjected to or witnessing an incident of hazing, please visit the UW ‘Report Hazing’ website. (Note: You may report anonymously.)

For more information, including email and phone number, visit the UW Hazing Prevention website.

Hazing Prevention Education

The University of Washington is required by law to provide hazing prevention education on the signs and dangers of hazing as well as the institution’s prohibition on hazing to students, student employees, faculty, staff, volunteers, and members of the greater UW community, including family and chosen family of UW students and the concerned public. In alignment with this requirement, the UW has developed several initiatives designed to provide hazing prevention education, including required online training for students.