Mills College
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

SUMMER ACADEMIC WORKSHOP (SAW) This four-week residential program, tailored for first-generation college students and students of color, provides selected students with a rigorous academic transition to college and a lasting support community. Over the four weeks, SAW students participate in approximately 68 hours of class time across four course modules (English, social justice, sociological inquiry, and mathematics), and three workshops (sociology, study skills, and writing). This is complemented by 48 hours of structured study time, interspersed with leadership development and team-building activities, introductions to key areas and resources on campus, weekly educational and social outings, athletic programs, and introductions to library and computing services available at Mills. Workshops and Individual support is also provided during all 4 years for SAW students and other students who choose to utilize the program's services.

Mills College is committed to creating and maintaining a community where all individuals are treated with equality of opportunity, free from discrimination and harassment. Mills College desires to promote healthy and respectful discourse and inquiry, and a living, learning, and working environment that is free of unlawful harassment, discrimination, exploitation or intimidation; welcoming and valuing the full richness of our diversity, while working towards social justice. Decisions and behavior that a member of the community believes may violate this commitment may be addressed by using this Grievance Policy. Mills College will take prompt and effective corrective action when it concludes that there has been unlawful discrimination or harassment, or where its officers decide that it is important to take action to prevent a future such instance. Grievance A grievance under this Policy is accusation within the College, of a non-academic nature about a decision or behavior on the part of a student, faculty member, staff or other employee, or other individual associated with Mills College that the Grievant perceives to create a harmful, living learning working environment, including, but not limited to, claims of discriminatory treatment or discriminatory impact, or bias-related incidents, in both cases where the Grievant believes that the decision or behavior resulted from perceived or actual hostility against the Grievant or a group because of race, color, sex, gender identity, gender presentation, disability, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, ethnicity, national origin, family status and/or spiritual/religious beliefs. Bias-Related Incidents These are incidents that are expressions of hostility against another individual (or group) because of race, color, sex, gender identity, gender presentation, disability, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, ethnicity, national origin, family status and/or spiritual/religious beliefs and/, or because the perpetrator perceives that the other person (or group) has one or more of these characteristics. It also envisions instances of protected (but hateful or intolerant) speech that may generate harm, and thus may warrant College intervention. Bias-related incidents need to be addressed because they harm individuals and/or groups, undermine civility and understanding in the Mills community, as well as impede the educational process. As part of our strategic imperative on inclusiveness, Mills College formed a Bias Response Team comprised of faculty, students and staff. This team is chaired by Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students. The team will discuss issues of bias that arise on campus. The formation of the BRT illustrates the College's commitment to diversity and trust that we will continue to work together with mutual respect and integrity. Hate Crimes A hate crime, as the College considers it, is a criminal act that is committed against the person or property of another because of the other person's actual or perceived race, color, sex, gender identity, gender presentation, disability, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, ethnicity, national origin, family status and/or spiritual/religious beliefs. Hate crimes also include any such crimes committed against the property of a public agency or private institution - including educational facilities and advocacy groups - because the property of the agency or institution is identified or associated with a person or group of an identifiable race, color, sex, gender identity, gender presentation, disability, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, ethnicity, national origin, family status and/or spiritual/religious beliefs. Retaliation This Policy also prohibits retaliation against a person who makes a grievance under this Policy or who participates in any manner in this procedure or any government inquiry into a matter that would be proper to be a grievance under this Policy. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, threats, intimidation, reprisals, and/or adverse actions related to employment or education.