VOICING A CONCERN

Concerns (sometimes referred to as “grievances”) might arise in a class, studio, a shared space, a campus event, or an interpersonal exchange. Concerns might relate to any number of topics such as:

• Interpersonal Conflict
• Academic Misconduct
• Inappropriate Relationships and Other Conflicts of Interest
• Sexual or Gender-based Misconduct
• Bias & Discrimination (including microaggressions)
• Harassment
• Unsafe Environment or Behaviors
• Risk of Violence or Self-harm

You may have concerns about your own experience or something you witnessed. Both are important. The severity of your concern may change over time. It is never too early or too late to speak up. You can repeat your concern if the issue persists. There may also be instances where you might have a concern but you are not sure how to describe it or whom to tell. You may speak confidentially to our department contacts (or other campus resources) about any concern in order to explore possible next steps.

If you feel comfortable and safe, address concerns informally through thoughtful dialogue with the individual(s) closest to the situation. This often means communicating directly with your course instructor. Explain your concerns or questions to them and ask for clarification and assistance. When appropriate, be willing to offer suggestions on an outcome that would most help you. If you meet in-person to express a concern, you can always bring someone with you for support.

If you are not comfortable communicating with someone involved in the issue, or if you have tried and were not comfortable with the outcome, there are other contacts within the department you can speak with confidentially about the situation:

• Department Chair: Rick Mohler
• Undergraduate Program Coordinator: Ann Marie Borys
• Graduate Program Coordinator: Tyler Sprague
• Undergraduate Academic Advisor: Kim Sawada
• Graduate Academic Advisor: Claudine Manio

I need immediate emergency assistance.
In urgent or dangerous situations, dial 9-1-1 from any phone – including cell phones.

I have concerns for my physical safety.
Examples include: relationship violence, stalking, cyberstalking, harassment, threats, escalating conflicts at school or work, and suicidal indicators

SafeCampus (Campus Office)
Call 206-685-7233, or email safecampus@uw.edu
Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm excluding UW holidays. If you are calling after-hours, please see after-hours resource guide on webpage.

I have a non-emergency safety concern about equipment, facilities, activities, or behaviors.

• Academic Advisors or Program Coordinators
• Department Chair
• Facilities Coordinator
• Fabrication Labs, including laser cutters: Fab Lab Director
• CBE computing related: BE-IT

Go To Directory

In the event of any injury (yourself or someone else), always file an OARS report within 24 hours.

I have a non-emergency concern about equipment & facilities.
Examples include: heating, noise, room cleanliness

• Facilities Coordinator: Meegan Amen | meegan@uw.edu
• Academic Advisors
• Department Chair

I have a concern that I would prefer to discuss first with a peer in my cohort.

Student Advisory Council
There are at least two representatives for each undergraduate and graduate cohort. If you don’t know who your SAC reps are, contact your Academic Advisor.

I have a concern about architecture studio culture.
Examples include: issues with instruction, expectations, workload

• Studio Instructor
• Program Coordinator
• Department Chair

I have a course related concern involving a syllabus, my grade, or other class activities.

• Course Instructor
• Department Chair

I have a concern about the cost of studio, such as modeling materials, software licenses, hardware (laptop/computer, monitor), printing.

• Studio Instructor
• Department Chair
• Program Coordinator
• Academic Advisor

Course syllabus should list required materials, supplies, and books for the course. If not, please communicate with your instructor.

Go To Directory

What happens with Course Evaluation forms?

Course evaluation forms are primarily meant to provide feedback to your instructor(s) about the learning experience in a specific class. The Department Chair will receive some summary data analysis from these evaluations but the Chair typically does not receive the written student comments. Comments are only provided to the instructor. If you wish to provide specific feedback or express an immediate concern to the Department Chair, please contact the Chair directly to set up a meeting.

I have a concern involving a fellow student.
Examples include: interpersonal conflict, bias, discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, pregnancy or parenting status, and LGBTQ+ identity

• Christopher Campbell, CBE Assoc. Dean for Students | ccamp1@uw.edu
• Course Instructor (if applicable)
• Department Chair (if applicable)
• UW Bias Incident Reporting Tool (can be anonymous)
• UW Office of the Title IX* Coordinator
• Report It (Campus Office) – to report Student Conduct Code violations
• Office of the Ombud – services for preventing, managing, navigating and resolving conflict at the UW

*Title IX and other federal and state laws collectively prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, pregnant or parenting status, and LGBTQ identity.

I have a concern involving the mental health and well-being a fellow student.

Life-Threatening Concerns:

• Call 911 if you or someone else is experiencing a life-threatening emergency.
• For other urgent safety concerns (such as a mental health crisis), call SafeCampus at 206.685.7233 (SAFE) or email safecampus@uw.edu, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. excluding UW holidays.
• 24/7 UW Crisis Resources

Non-Emergency Concerns:

• Course Instructor
• Department Chair
• CBE Mental Health Counselor: Leah Eisele | leisele1@uw.edu

I have a concern involving student academic misconduct or dishonesty.

• Community Standards & Student Conduct – information about academic misconduct
• Course Instructor
• Department Chair
• Report It (Campus Office) – to report Student Conduct Code violations

I have a concern involving a faculty member.
Examples include: interpersonal conflict, bias, discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, pregnancy or parenting status, and LGBTQ+ identity

• Course Instructor (if applicable)
• Department Chair (if applicable)
• UW Bias Incident Reporting Tool (can be anonymous)
• UW Office of the Title IX* Coordinator
• Office of the Ombud – services for preventing, managing, navigating and resolving conflict at the UW

*Title IX and other federal and state laws collectively prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, pregnant or parenting status, and LGBTQ identity.

I have a concern involving a staff member.
Examples include: interpersonal conflict, bias, discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, pregnancy or parenting status, and LGBTQ+ identity

• CBE Director of HR: Gerri Williams | 206-616-2442 | gerriw@uw.edu
• Department Chair (if applicable)
• UW Bias Incident Reporting Tool (can be anonymous)
• UW Office of the Title IX* Coordinator
• Office of the Ombud – services for preventing, managing, navigating and resolving conflict at the UW

*Title IX and other federal and state laws collectively prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, pregnant or parenting status, and LGBTQ identity.

The Office of the Ombud serves the entire University of Washington community by providing high quality, client-focused services for preventing, managing, navigating and resolving conflict at the UW. We act as thought-partners with clients to assist them in navigating any issue to do with their lives at the UW. Through active participation in the problem-solving process, clients develop the ability to prevent, manage, and resolve future conflicts.

The UW Office of Title IX Coordinator provides a full array of resources, support, and referrals for anyone with concerns related to sexual misconduct including discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, pregnant or parenting status, and LGBTQ identity.

The UW Office of Community Standards & Student Conduct (CSSC) is responsible for maintaining and implementing the UW Student Conduct Code. CSSC has an online “Report It” tool to make reporting incidents of student misconduct easy for faculty, staff, and students.

The University maintains various policies for Resolution of Complaints against University Employees to help students who have concerns about the behavior of University employees. This includes the online Reporting System for Incidences of Bias and the University Complaint Investigation and Resolution Office (UCIRO).

*Employees include faculty, staff, and (sometimes) graduate students.

UW Disability Resources for Students (DRS) partners with students with disabilities to request accommodations that grant access to educational opportunities. Students can register with DRS to request academic accommodations.

It is the policy of the University of Washington to reasonably accommodate students’ religious observances in accordance with RCW 28B.137.010. Any student seeking reasonable accommodations must provide written notice through the Office of the University Registrar Religious Accommodations request process within the first two weeks of the beginning of the course, of the specific dates of absence due to religious accommodation.

The UW Disability Services Office (DSO) partners with employees to explore reasonable accommodations for employees (including student employees) and job applicants with medical conditions or disabilities.

The University’s Office of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) is responsible for all aspects of physical safety associated with university activities and operations. EHS maintains an Online Accident Reporting System (OARS) to track work-related problems so preventative measures can be implemented. This includes near misses, hazardous conditions, and accidents or injuries involving employees, students, UW volunteers working on or off campus, or members of the public visiting campus. After reporting the incident to an appropriate supervisor, always make sure to submit an OARS report.

The Civil Rights Investigation Office investigates complaints made about University employees and students that raise concerns relating to civil rights such as protection from discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and sexual misconduct.

Contact the Department Chair or Undergraduate Academic Advisor or Graduate Academic Advisor for information about department committees and meetings where you can become involved.

These are student committees, organizations, & affinity groups that help shape the culture and community in our department and college.

AIAS UW: uwashington@aias.org
NOMAS UW: nomas@uw.edu
47° North: uw47north@gmail.com
Student Advisory Council (SAC) – there are at least two representatives for each undergraduate and graduate cohort. If you don’t know who your SAC reps are, contact your academic adviser.
CBE Student Council – contact Megan Brown, for current department representative.

CBE Office of Student Services / Student Affinity Groups:

• Fil-Am Sa CBE
• Somos CBE