A new online sexual harassment prevention training program will be available in October to UC supervisors and faculty at all campuses and locations.

Supervisors may still receive classroom-style sexual prevention training at their locations, however this program -- provided by the UC Office of the President and developed with a vendor, Workplace Answers – helps UC comply with a new state law (AB 1825) requiring employers with 50 or more employees to offer supervisors at least two hours of mandatory training in sexual harassment prevention by Jan. 1, 2006. 

Although UC and its campuses have sexual harassment prevention policies and proactive education programs, the new law will cause employers to take a more thorough approach in monitoring compliance. The new UC online program, thus, will help keep a record of who has and hasn’t been trained. The training also addresses discrimination and retaliation issues, as required by AB 1825.

The three versions (administrative, academic and medical center) of the online course are fully interactive and customized to include UC work scenarios. The program will not certify a "trainee" until he or she completes the entire course, designed to take at least two hours.

In addition to those who supervise in UC administrative or academic units, all faculty members – because they supervise teaching or research assistants – are subject to the mandatory training requirement.

Supervisors and faculty who received sexual harassment training since 2003 – either in person or via (previous) online programs offered by their campuses  – do not have to take training again this calendar year. After Jan. 1, 2006, however, the new law requires that every supervisory employee be trained in sexual harassment prevention once every two years. New supervisors must receive training within six months of assuming supervisory duties. After the new UC program is available in October, it will be the only UC online training program that satisfies the requirements of the new law. In-person training, as long as it is at least two hours, is certainly acceptable.

Those with questions about training may contact the Title IX Officer or sexual harassment education coordinator at their campuses.