40.001:  Equal Employment and Educational Opportunity

Status:	Approved on December 2, 2002	Signatures and dates on archival copy
Effective:	when approved
Initiated by:	William Y. Smith Executive Assistant to the President for Institutional Equity
Reviewed by:	Nancy Prichard Crist, Chair Policy and Procedure Review Committee
Endorsed by:	Gary B. North Vice President for Administration
Approved by:	Stephen Kopp Provost

Purpose

To provide a uniform policy on equal opportunity and affirmative action in all areas of employment and educational relationships at Ohio University.

Policy

It is the policy of Ohio University that there shall be no discrimination against any individual in educational or employment opportunities because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, veteran status, sexual orientation or handicap. Also, there shall be no discrimination because of age except in compliance with requirements of retirement plans or state and federal laws and guidelines. Furthermore, the University maintains a vigorous affirmative action program in order to promote equal employment opportunities and to ensure non-discrimination in all educational programs and activities. All programs to implement this policy will be reviewed on an annual basis.

Ohio University accepts the important distinction between affirmative action and equal opportunity. Equal opportunity assumes that the concept of merit based solely upon a person's ability to perform will govern all personnel and educational decisions. Ohio University is committed to achieve equal opportunity via affirmative action which requires specific efforts to recruit, admit, employ, transfer, and promote members of groups previously excluded. The assertion of this distinction gives impetus to the institution's renewed search for approaches and programs designed to meet our goals and objectives. This is being done in recognition that benign neutrality tends to perpetuate the status quo.

The realization of affirmative action objectives will increase the heterogeneity of the University community and facilitate knowledge of the values and cultures of peoples of the world. This will add a new dimension to the multicultural educational mission of the University. We are committed to cultural pluralism in the belief that this is beneficial to all people and essential in strengthening the fabric of society. This commitment demands that we provide opportunities for people who have been denied educational justice.

The responsibility of overseeing the University's compliance with affirmative action requirements has been delegated by the President of the University to the Executive Assistant to the President for Institutional Equity. Every member of the University community, however, is charged with the responsibility for its attainment.

Procedures

There are no specific procedures that are part of this policy statement.

Reviewers

Proposed revisions of this policy should be reviewed by:

1. Policy and Procedure Review Committee

Forms

There are no forms that are specific to this policy.

Dick Piccard and Kristina Schnelle revised this file (http://www.ohiou.edu/policy/40-001.html) on April 1, 2003.

Please E-mail any comments or suggestions to "polproc@www.ohiou.edu".