The University of California, Merced is committed to maintaining an environment where everyone can thrive in a community that is free of discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment and sexual violence. All new and returning students are now required to attend an annual training session on discrimination and harassment prevention.
The Sexual Violence and Harassment, Anti-Discrimination, Prevention, and Education (SHAPE) training covers the UC Policies on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment and Anti-Discrimination. The SHAPE training is accessible through CATCourses.
An important note: if you do not complete the SHAPE training by the deadline, you won’t be able to register for courses for the following semester.
Important Deadlines:
- September 30th is the deadline for students to enroll in Spring courses.
- For students starting at UC Merced in the Spring, February 28th is the deadline to enroll in Fall courses.
Sensitive Content Warning and Accommodations
This course contains content related to Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence; at times, these topics can elicit tender reactions. If you find that you need an alternate activity to meet this requirement, please contact the CARE Confidential Advocate at CARE.Advocate@ucmerced.edu.
If you need disability-related accommodations to access or complete this training, please contact ophd@ucmerced.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who must take the SHAPE training?
All students (graduate, undergraduate, returning, transfer) must complete SHAPE training. You must take it every year until you graduate.
I am a returning student. Why do I have to take the SHAPE training again?
California law now requires all students to take an annual sexual violence and sexual harassment prevention training, and it also expects students to be trained about other forms of discrimination and harassment, including hostile environment based on other Protected Categories.
I am a student employee. Do I also have to do the SHAPE training for employees?
Yes. As a UC Merced employee, you have reporting obligations under the SVSH policy.
How do I access the training?
- You will access this training through your UC Merced CATCourses account.
- Students are assigned SHAPE training in CATCourses before the start of the semester.
- If you are using CATCourses for the first time, please find more information about the platform.
Can I do the training through my CATCourses app?
We recommend opening CATCourses in a browser on a desktop or laptop, as it will not work through the Canvas (CATCourses) mobile app, and it may be hard to access through the web browser on a mobile device.
How long does the training take to complete?
This training should take 30-45 minutes to complete, including the quiz at the end of the course.
Do I have to pass the quiz?
Yes, you have to get 100% on the quiz, and you can take the quiz as many times as you need to.
What is the deadline for completing the training?
- Students are assigned SHAPE training in CATCourses before the start of the semester.
- Students enrolled for the Fall are required to complete SHAPE training by September 30th.
- For students starting at UC Merced in the Spring, the deadline is February 28th.
Will you send a reminder?
Yes, you will receive regular reminders on a biweekly basis until you complete the training. If you completed the training close to the time of the reminder email, you may still get a reminder email. If you have completed the training and are still receiving a reminder email, please email ophd@ucmerced.edu for assistance.
What happens if I don’t do the training?
If you do not complete this training by September 30th, a registration hold will be placed on your account the morning of October 1st.The hold will prevent you from enrolling in Spring courses.
You may check the status of account holds.
Once you complete the training, the hold should be removed within 2 business days.If there is still a hold after 2 business days, please contact ophd@ucmerced.edu for assistance.
What should I do if I’m having technical difficulties with the course?
If you have any issues locating the training or accessing your CATCourses account, please contact the UC Merced Service Desk via phone, chat, ticket, or in person.
If you experience technical issues with the course, please contact SHAPE-support@uconline.edu.
