Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action

Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action

I. Statement of Policy

1. Safeguarding and promoting the rights and welfare of all employees is the responsibility of Fort Lewis College.  In order to meet this institutional responsibility, Fort Lewis College has instituted this Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy (hereinafter the “Policy”).  It will provide for continuing review of the activities of Fort Lewis College in keeping with this responsibility and for compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Equal Pay Act of 1964, related Executive Orders 11246 and 11375 and revised Order Number Four, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 402 of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 as amended in 1978, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and all Civil Rights laws of the State of Colorado.
2. Fort Lewis College does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political beliefs, or veteran status.  Accordingly, equal opportunity for employment, admission, and education shall be extended to all persons.  The College shall promote equal opportunity, equal treatment, and affirmative action efforts to increase the diversity of students, faculty, and staff.
3. This Policy applies to all students, faculty, staff of the College, and to all programs administered by the College.  All members of the Fort Lewis College community have a responsibility to work to ensure a discrimination-free environment and promote affirmative action programs.  Fort Lewis College is committed to the following:
1. To recruit, hire, train, transfer, and promote persons in all job classifications, based on the principles of equal opportunity
          and affirmative action;
2. To assure that all personnel actions such as compensation, benefits, transfer, reduction in force, reemployment, professional development are based on the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action;
3. To recruit, admit, and educate students based on the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action;
4. To assure that such programs as financial aid, health services, housing, scholarship, and recreational activities are administered based on the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action; and
5. To provide due process for complaints of discrimination and harassment.

III.  Responsibilities of the Office of Equal Opportunity

The Equal Opportunity Coordinator (hereinafter the “Coordinator”) is appointed by the President.  The Coordinator shall report directly to the President or designee (hereinafter the “President”) on all matters relating to the Policy.  The Coordinator shall:

1. Be the convener of the Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Committee;
2. Advise and assist the President on the preparation of the plans, procedures, regulations, reports, and other matters pertaining to equal opportunity and affirmative action;
3. Prepare reports as directed by the President;
4. Develop procedures for and monitor all faculty and exempt staff searches to ensure compliance with Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action requirements;
5. Prepare, or assist in preparing, reports required by governmental agencies concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action;
6. In cooperation with Human Resources Director, distribute the College’s Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy and other related policies to faculty, staff, and students of the College;
7. Be responsible for providing education and training to faculty and staff on the issues covered in the College’s Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Plan.

V.  Student Service

1. Statement of Anti-Discrimination
1. Fort Lewis College is committed to providing students service regardless of a student’s race, age, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political beliefs, or veteran status, in accordance with Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title VIII of the Housing Act of 1968, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
2. The Coordinator will work with the appropriate offices to ensure equal opportunity in all student services, including but not limited to, recruitment and admission of students, financial aid, campus housing, student activities, academic support, and student regulations.
2. Monitoring and Evaluation Procedure
   It is the responsibility of the various offices to maintain the following information and provide the information as needed by the Coordinator.
   1.  Admissions criteria used, including test scores and any weighting factors;
   2. Age, ethnicity, national origin, gender, and veteran status of the applicant pool, admitted  students, and entering students for the Fall term of each year; and
   3. Description of the recruiting efforts and the recruitment schedule for the previous year, including schools and potential groups of  students contacted.
   1. Type, amount and source(s) of financial aid and scholarship;
   2. Number of recipients by age, ethnicity, national origin, gender, and veteran status;
   3. Selection criteria used for all types of financial aid and Fort Lewis College scholarships; and
   4. Procedures for dissemination of information regarding availability of all types of financial awards to applicants, new students and continuing students.
   1. A list of current student organizations and clubs;
   2. A statement of non-discrimination in policies and practices from each organization and club on the above list; and
   3. A description of procedures and policies which assure that College sponsored activities and College posting policies are non-discriminatory.
1. Recruitment and Admission
   The Director of Admission is responsible for maintaining and providing the following information:
2. Attrition and Retention
   The Director of Institutional Research is responsible for maintaining and providing the data which show annual student retention rates by age, ethnicity, national origin, gender, and veteran status.
3. Financial Aid and Scholarship
   The Director of Financial Aid and the Director of Admission are responsible for maintaining and providing the following information
4. Housing
   The Director of Housing and Conference Services is responsible for maintaining and providing policies and procedures relating to housing, including room/apartment and roommate assignments policies.
5. Student Activities
   The Director of Leadership Center is responsible for maintaining and providing the following information:
6. Student Regulations
   The Office of Vice President for Student Affairs is responsible for maintaining and providing policies pertinent to student activities and conduct.

VII.     Other Employment Practices

1. Transfer and Promotion
   The same equal opportunity and affirmative action principles to employment, transfer, and promotion will be applied the same as in the initial appointment.  All employees will be encouraged to seek advancement to higher positions by applying for openings for which they are qualified.
2. Compensation and Benefits
1. Salary and benefits procedures will be administered fairly and equitably for all employees, adhering to the policies of Fort Lewis College and the Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration.
2. All salary and wage adjustments will be based on the individual’s performance evaluation and the availability of funds.  When any unjustified pay differentials under the Equal Rights Act of 1964 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as interpreted by the Higher Education Guidelines Executive Order 11246, are discovered, the College must correct them in a reasonable time.
3. Terminations of Employment
   The equal opportunity and affirmative action principles will be applied to terminations of employment.  The formal employee exit process shall be used for all benefits-eligible employees terminating their employment with the College and the Coordinator shall be informed of any complaints of discrimination associated with a termination of employment.

IX.   Evaluation of Employment Policies and Practices

Each administrative unit is responsible for data collection and reporting on equal opportunity and affirmative action practices as requested by the Coordinator.

XI.    Grievance Procedures

1. Inquiries and complaints relating to the College’s Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy can be made to the Equal Opportunity Coordinator.
2. If an individual wishes to notify the College of a possible discrimination and/or harassment and requires resolution, he or she must complete the College’s Complaint form.  Complaints, both informal and formal, will be handled under the Discrimination Grievance Procedures.

XIII. Responsibilities 

For following policy:  This policy applies to all students, faculty, and staff of Fort Lewis College and to all programs administered by the College.

For enforcement of policy:  Equal Opportunity Coordinator and Human Resources Director

For oversight of policy:  Vice President for Student Affairs

For notification:  Policy Librarian

For procedures implementing policy:  Equal Opportunity Coordinator and Human Resources Director

XV.  Revision History

This policy was initially approved February 11, 2009. It was revised December 6, 2013. This revision updates the policy to include "gender identity" and "gender expression," formats it in the official policy template, and makes minor editorial changes.