Resources & Policies
Psychological Health, Well-Being and Resilience
UCLA is renowned for academic excellence, and yet we know that the majority of students feel overwhelmed at times by demands to succeed academically, socially and personally. Our campus community is committed to helping all students thrive, learn to cope with stress, and build resilience. Remember, self-care is a skill that is critical to everyone’s long-term success. Here are some of the many resources available at UCLA to support students:
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): https://www.counseling.ucla.edu/ Provides counseling and other psychological/mental health services to students. Walk-in hours are Monday-Thursday 8am-4:30pm and Friday 9am-4:30pm in John Wooden Center West. Crisis counseling is also available 24 hours/day at (310) 825-0768.
- Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center: http://www.studenthealth.ucla.edu Provides high quality and accessible ambulatory healthcare and education by caring professionals to support the academic success and personal development of all UCLA students.
- Consultation and Response Team: https://www.studentincrisis.ucla.edu/. Support for students in crisis.
- Healthy Campus Initiative (HCI): https://healthy.ucla.edu Provides links to a wide variety of resources for enhancing physical and psychological well-being, positive social interactions, healthy sleep, healthy eating, healthy physical activity and more.
- Campus and Student Resilience: https://www.resilience.ucla.edu/ Provides programs to promote resilience and trains students to help support their peers.
- UCLA Recreation: https://www.recreation.ucla.edu/ Offers a broad array of services and programs including fitness, yoga, dance, martial arts, meditation, sports, and much more.
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: https://equity.ucla.edu/ Committed to providing an equal learning, working and living environment at UCLA and supports a range of programs to promote these goals campus-wide.
- UCLA GRIT Coaching Program: https://www.grit.ucla.edu/ GRIT stands for Guidance, Resilience, Integrity and Transformation. In this program, UCLA students receive individualized support from trained peer coaches to manage stress, fostering positive social connections, set goals, and navigate campus resources.
Resources for Students Dealing with Financial Stress
- Bruin Shelter: http://www.bruinshelter.org/ Provides a safe, supportive environment for fellow college students experiencing homelessness by fostering a collaborative effort between universities, community-based organizations, and service providers.
- The CPO Food Closet: http://www.cpo.ucla.edu/cpo/foodcloset/ Provides free food for any UCLA student who may be experiencing hunger and/or struggling to attain food due to financial hardships.
- Economic Crisis Response Team: https://www.studentincrisis.ucla.edu/Economic-Crisis-Response (ECRT), for students in financial distress. ECRT provides meal vouchers and emergency housing for 14 days.
Violence and Discrimination Resources
UCLA prohibits gender discrimination, sexual harassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. If you have experienced any of these, there are a variety of campus resources to assist you, including a confidential hotline where you can talk to someone 24/7: (310) 825-0768.
Title IX is a federal civil rights law in the United States that was passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. Therefore international students have access to the same services at the Title IX office as non-international students. Please note that faculty and TAs are responsible employees, which means faculty, TAs, and other UC employees are required under the UC Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment to inform the Title IX Coordinator—a non-confidential resource —should they become aware that you or any other student has experienced sexual violence or gender discrimination.
Confidential Resources: You can make an appointment with a CARE Advocate (careprogram.ucla.edu) or call their 24/7 hotline: (888) 200-6665. CARE offers free and confidential services for students, staff and faculty impacted by sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) (counseling.ucla.edu) also offers confidential crisis counseling and 24/7 support at (310) 825-0768. You can also receive confidential off campus emergency medical services, advocacy, and counseling at the Rape Treatment Center UCLA Medical Center Santa Monica. Their 24/7 hotline is (424) 259-7208.
Non-Confidential Reporting: You can report sexual violence or sexual harassment directly to the University’s Title IX Office, 2255 Murphy Hall, titleix@conet.ucla.edu, (310) 206-3417. Reports to law enforcement can be made to UCPD at (310) 825-1491. Please note that any appointment you make with a Title IX representative is NOT confidential.
Students with Disabilities
Students with Disabilities: If you are already registered with the Center for Accessible Education (CAE), please request your Letter of Accommodation in the Student Portal. If you are seeking registration with the CAE, please submit your request for accommodations via the CAE website. Students with disabilities requiring academic accommodations should submit their request for accommodations as soon as possible, as it may take up to two weeks to review the request. For more information, please visit the CAE website, visit the CAE at A255 Murphy Hall, email caeintake@saonet.ucla.edu, or contact CAE by phone at (310) 825-1501.
Pregnancy/Lactation/Parenting
Many of our students are also parents. Consider adding language that parents are welcome and valued in your course, and that they can speak to you about scheduling concerns that may arise. You can also consider adding the following language to your syllabus: “CAE can provide academic accommodations for pregnant, parenting, and lactating students. If you identify with any of the above, please reach out to the CAE office. Additional resources: Students with Dependents Program https://www.swd.ucla.edu/
Additional Course Policies and UCLA Policies
Use of Laptops, Tablets or Phones in Class: A key goal of this course is collaborative songwrighting and a course expectation is that participants will be committing their attention to the collaborative process and not be distracted by other devices. Research also finds that laptop multitasking is likely to hinder not only your own learning, but also the learning of anyone who can see your laptop. For the sake of your peers’ learning, I therefore ask that you turn of all devices before classes and keep your attention in the space with your classmates.
Message about Academic Integrity to all UCLA Students from UCLA Dean of Students: UCLA is a community of scholars. In this community, all members including faculty, staff and students alike are responsible for maintaining standards of academic honesty. As a student and member of the University community, you are here to get an education and are, therefore, expected to demonstrate integrity in your academic endeavors. You are evaluated on your own merits. Cheating, plagiarism, or other kinds of academic dishonesty are considered unacceptable behavior and will result in formal disciplinary proceedings usually resulting in suspension or dismissal.
Forms of Academic Dishonesty: As specified in the UCLA Student Conduct Code, violations or attempted violations of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, multiple submissions or facilitating academic dishonesty. Given the pass/fail grading and mission of this course to promote collaboration without judgement, we hope that many of these forms of academic honesty will not be relevant or problematic. Nevertheless, in line with UCLA expectations we highlight the following definitions:
Plagiarism: Presenting another’s words or ideas as if they were one’s own
- Submitting as your own through purchase or otherwise, part of or an entire work produced verbatim by someone else
- Paraphrasing ideas, data or writing without properly acknowledging the source
- Unauthorized transfer and use of someone else’s computer file as your own
- Unauthorized use of someone else’s data in completing a computer exercise
Multiple Submissions: Submitting the same work (with exact or similar content) in more than one class without permission from the instructor to do so. This includes courses you are currently taking, as well as courses you might take in another quarter
Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: Participating in any action that compromises the integrity if the academic standards of the University; assisting another to commit an act of academic dishonesty
- Allowing another student to copy from you
- Providing material or other information to another student with knowledge that such assistance could be used in any of the violations stated above
Fabrication: Falsification or invention of any information in an academic exercise
- Altering data to support research
- Presenting results from research that was not performed
- Crediting source material that was not used for research
While you are here at UCLA, you may find yourself in a situation where plagiarism or another form of academic dishonesty seems like a viable choice. You may rationalize to yourself that “Everyone else does it”…Well, they don’t. And will that matter when YOU get caught? NO! If you are unsure whether what you are considering doing is cheating, just ask yourself …how would you feel if your actions were public, for anyone to see? Would you feel embarrassed or ashamed? If the answer is yes, that’s a good indicator that you are taking a risk and rationalizing it to yourself.
If after reviewing the information above, you are still unclear about any of the items – don’t take chances, don’t just take your well-intentioned friend’s advice – ASK your TA or your Professor. Know the rules – Ignorance is NO defense. In addition, avoid placing yourself in situations which might lead your TA or Professor to suspect you of cheating. For example, during an exam don’t sit next to someone with whom you studied in case your answers end up looking “too similar.”
Alternatives to Academic Dishonesty
- Seek out help – meet with your Teaching Fellow/Research Assistant or Professor, ask if there is special tutoring available.
- See a counselor at Student Psychological Services, and/or your school, college or department – UCLA has many resources for students who are feeling the stresses of academic and personal pressures.
Remember, getting caught in any form of academic dishonesty affects more than just your GPA. How will you explain to your parents, family and friends that you have been suspended or dismissed? How will it affect your financial aid award and/or scholarship money? Will you be required to, and be able to pay back that money if you are no longer a student? If you live in the residence halls, where will you go if you are told you can no longer live there?
You have worked very hard to get here, so don’t cheat! If you would like more information, please come see us at the Dean of Students’ Office in 1206 Murphy Hall, call us at (310) 825-3871 or visit their website at www.deanofstudents.ucla.edu.
Please keep this syllabus easily accessible so that you can refer to it throughout the quarter. Contact me or your Teaching Fellows/Research Assistants with any clarifying questions in advance of the quarter or within the first week. I look forward to getting to know you and supporting your learning in this course.