10.6.5 University diversity officer
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committees and Offices
Boğaziçi University has established various committees and offices to guide and implement policies, programmes and trainings related to diversity, equality, inclusion and human rights on campus. These structures embody the university's commitment in these areas and aim to provide an inclusive environment for students, staff and faculty.
Gender Equality Commission
Boğaziçi University has a ‘Gender Equality Commission’ to raise awareness on gender equality, develop policies and prevent gender discrimination. This commission plays a critical role in determining and implementing the university's gender equality strategies. The Commission carries out studies on gender equality, develops relevant policies and supports the training of university components on this issue.
Commission for the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (CİTÖK)
The Commission for the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (CİTÖK) is a structure established to prevent sexual harassment at Boğaziçi University and to raise awareness on this issue. CITÖK is responsible for handling, preventing and investigating sexual harassment cases. It also organises training programmes and events to raise awareness of sexual harassment throughout the university.
Social Policy Forum
The Social Policy Forum is a research centre at Boğaziçi University that works to develop and implement policies that combat social inequalities, poverty and different forms of discrimination. The Forum encourages the formulation of social policies on the basis of scientific knowledge and democratic participation. It also conducts research on social justice and human rights issues and offers policy recommendations in these areas.
University Diversity and Equality Policies
The governing bodies of Boğaziçi University take an active role in the development and implementation of diversity and equality policies. These structures support efforts to promote diversity, protect human rights and prevent discrimination on the university campus. The university continuously works and serves its community to raise awareness and create effective policies in this area.
These structures and committees reflect Boğaziçi University's commitment to diversity and equality and actively work to promote these values on campus.
Boğaziçi University Student Rights and Responsibilities
The "Student Rights and Responsibilities" declaration has been prepared within the framework of laws and university regulations in order to create a quality education and research environment based on the principles of equality and diversity, where the academic, social and cultural development of Boğaziçi University students will be ensured, and to ensure that students adopt to be individuals who are sensitive to their environment and aware of their social rights and responsibilities.
The rights and responsibilities in the Declaration cannot be used in a way that restricts and/or eliminates the rights and responsibilities of others.
Freedom of Expression:
Rights: Students may freely express their views and opinions without calls for violence or insults, provided that the rights of others are respected.
Responsibility: Students respect the rights and freedom of expression of others.
Equality:
Rights: Students shall not be discriminated against on the basis of any difference such as belief, religion, language, race, disability, gender and sexual orientation. They receive respect and equal treatment from university academic and administrative staff and other students. No student may be subjected to degrading attitudes and behaviours.
Responsibility: Students show respect for differences without discrimination, and cannot have degrading attitudes and behaviours towards others. Students behave respectfully to the academic and administrative staff of the University and other students.
Living in a safe environment:
Rights: Students have the right to live in an environment free from all forms of violence and harassment (physical, emotional, sexual). In cases of sexual harassment and the related use of power and influence, the victim's complaint will be treated with dignity and confidentiality (see the Guidelines on Protection and Safeguarding from Harassment.
Responsibility: Students may not use violence or harassment against a person or persons by word or action.
Confidentiality of Personal Information:
Rights: Except as required by law and regulations, academic and personal information cannot be given to third parties and/or institutions without the knowledge and consent of the students.
Responsibility: The student may not take the academic and personal information of others without the permission of the person in question, and warns and informs the relevant persons in case it is taken.
Sustainable Quality Campus Life:
Right Students have the right to live in a healthy, clean, hygienic and aesthetic environment that supports academic, cultural and social development.
Responsibility: Students take care to maintain a quality life without harming the environment and animals, keeping the environment clean, without creating sound and visual pollution and using limited resources effectively.
Education:
Right Students have the right to benefit from the facilities provided to them in the best conditions in classrooms, laboratories, libraries, sports and art facilities, etc. They receive counselling and assistance from academic and administrative staff. They are informed in a timely manner about the content and evaluation of the courses they take. They are expected to follow the programme announced by the instructor, unless otherwise stated. Students with disabilities have the right to make the necessary arrangements within the framework of accessibility and accessibility (such as arrangement of classroom locations, provision of research assistants by the instructor during exams, etc.). The right to be informed about the evaluation of exam results and similar studies and to object when necessary is reserved.
Responsibility:
Follows the lessons and participates in the exams given. Submit homework, reports, etc. on time.
They keep track of their grades and academic status.
Knows, follows and complies with the academic calendar and regulations.
Complies with the following principles of scientific plagiarism and other academic integrity:
Students are aware that in all kinds of academic studies in all disciplines, the evaluation will be made only on their own work, and that copying and / or translating someone else's ideas, suggestions and opinions in whole or in part without citing the source is a crime and will be subject to disciplinary action. ( Higher Education Institutions Student Disciplinary Regulations )
If any published or unpublished source (e.g. article, book, report, another student's work, Internet citation, etc.) is used, it indicates the source.
He/she does not present the work done by someone else and/or commissioned by someone else as his/her own work.
He doesn't cheat in exams.
It does not falsify any document, including electronic documents.
Participation:
Right Students have the right to participate in academic, social, extracurricular activities (clubs, ÖTK, etc.) and organisations. BÜREM, Medico Social, etc. benefit from the services and facilities offered by the units. Each student has the right to choose and elect his/her own representative within the framework of the rules and to participate in the management through his/her representative (see ÖTK).
Responsibility:
Acts in accordance with the rules and regulations by taking ownership of the given tasks.
Attends appointments on time. Notifies the excuse in advance for the work, counselling appointment, meeting, etc. that he / she cannot attend.
They are expected to vote in the SC elections.
Seeking Your Rights, Being Informed and Providing Information:
Right Students can apply to the head of the relevant department/unit on academic issues that they think their rights have been violated, and to the Dean of Student Affairs through the Registrar's Office on other issues and seek their rights. He/she has the right to receive a response within the legal period.
A student accused of any offence has the right to self-defence and the right to appeal.
Responsibility: The student is responsible for keeping the information about himself/herself up to date and accurate. Follows the relevant process.
https://bogazici.edu.tr/tr/pages/ogrenci-hak-ve-sorumluluklari/152
2024 Sustainability Report SDG-10 (Related Section)
Commissions and Offices for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
Boğaziçi University has established various committees and offices to develop policies, implement programmes and organise trainings on diversity, equality, inclusion and human rights on campus. These structures reinforce the university's commitment in these areas and aim to provide an inclusive, fair and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff.
Gender Equality Commission
Boğaziçi University has established the ‘Gender Equality Commission’ in order to raise awareness on gender equality, prevent gender discrimination and provide an inclusive campus environment. This commission plays a key role in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of the university's gender equality strategies and policies. It supports training programmes and studies aimed at raising awareness of gender equality among university constituents. The Gender Equality Commission is an important building block that realises Boğaziçi University's vision of creating a campus environment based on equality, inclusion and human rights.
Click here to see the members of the Gender Equality Commission:
https://bogazici.edu.tr/tr/pages/universite-yonetim-kurulu-kurul-ve-komisyonla/246
Commission for the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (CİTÖK)
Boğaziçi University established the Commission for the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (CİTÖK) in 2012 to prevent sexual harassment and violence and to ensure an inclusive campus environment. The main duties of the Commission include organising sexual harassment prevention training programmes for university constituents, guiding the administration to develop policies and practices against sexual harassment, and providing medical, psychological, psychosocial and legal support to individuals who have been subjected to sexual harassment through the CITÖK Office in accordance with the principle of confidentiality.
CITÖK has a pluralistic and inclusive structure consisting of academics from faculties and institutes, administrative staff working in related fields and student representatives. The pluralistic structure of the Commission is critical in terms of ensuring effective communication by covering all components of the university. In line with a recommendation of the University Executive Board (UYK), it was deemed appropriate for the commission members to take part in the relevant disciplinary commissions due to their subject expertise, and this practice was adopted by the majority of faculties and institutes.
CİTÖK is an important building block that realises Boğaziçi University's vision of ensuring equality, inclusiveness and a safe campus environment.
Click here to see the members of the Sexual Harassment Prevention Commission:
https://bogazici.edu.tr/tr/pages/universite-yonetim-kurulu-kurul-ve-komisyonla/246
Click here to go to CITÖK web page:
https://citok.bogazici.edu.tr/tr
Boğaziçi University Disability Commission
Boğaziçi University Disability Commission aims to provide a supportive and well- resourced environment for students with disabilities, to remove restrictions on their academic success and education, and to help them develop their self- awareness and independence as individuals. The Commission works to ensure that students, faculty and staff with disabilities have equal access rights and to increase awareness of disability across the university.
The values adopted by the Commission are as follows:
1. Respect and Value: Respects the individual characteristics, unique personalities and values of all students, faculty and staff.
2. Access and Safety: It aims to create a safe, accessible and supportive academic environment for individuals with disabilities.
3. Team Approach: It endeavours to develop effective methods and practices through teamwork to facilitate the learning processes of students with disabilities.
4. Independence and Responsibility: It encourages students to act independently, be self-sufficient and take responsibility.
5. Elimination of Barriers: It takes the necessary steps to remove physical and behavioural barriers that restrict the full and effective participation of individuals with disabilities in the university community.
In line with these values and goals, the Commission continues to work to ensure that Boğaziçi University provides an accessible and inclusive environment for everyone.
For more information about the Disability Commission, please click here:
https://bogazici.edu.tr/tr/pages/universite-yonetim-kurulu-kurul-ve-komisyonla/246
These committees play a strategic role in implementing the university's principles of diversity, equity and inclusion across the campus. This mechanism, supported by the administration, ensures the sustainability of an equitable, inclusive and fair campus culture for all university constituents.
