Equity Orientation PowerPoint Presentation

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Equity Orientation PowerPoint Presentation

• Developed by Laurie Clute, PT, MS
• Thanks to Wendy Smith for the wonderful graphics!

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EQUITY ORIENTATION

• What you need to know!

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What is equity?

• The dictionary defines equity as the condition
  or quality of being just, impartial and fair.
• Equity assumes
• non-discrimination

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River Valley Community College Non-Discrimination
Policy

• The River Valley Community College does not
  discriminate in the administration of its
  admissions and educational programs, activities
  or employment practices.

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Civil Rights Protected Categories

• Race
• Color
• Religion
• National origin
• Age

• Gender
• Disability
• Veterans status
• Sexual orientation
• Marital status

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Campus Equity Team

• Bet you didnt know we had such a team here!
• Who is on the team?

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River Valley Community College Equity Team

• Emma Clifford (Co-chair)
• Susan Parry (Co-chair)
• Diane Carroll
• Laurie Clute
• Deborah Lafko
• Jim McCarragher
• Judy Pomieko

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Goals of the Equity Team

• Educate administration, staff, faculty and
  students regarding equity issues.
• Assess compliance with applicable laws.

• Receive and investigate complaints filed that
  allege discrimination on one or more bases.
• Maintain documentation of complaints,
  investigations and resolutions.

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How sensitive are YOU to equity issues?

• Consider your answers to the following questions

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Question 1

• Do you use language that is free from racial,
  ethnic and sexual slurs at all times?

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Question 2

• Have you thought about how your own gender, race,
  ethnicity and social class influence how you
  interact with others?

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Question 3

• Do you remove any materials that are offensive or
  that show disrespect for one gender or the other?

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Question 4

• Do you use gender-free language and occupational
  titles?
• firefighter rather than fireman
• police officer rather than police man
• server rather than waitress/waiter

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Ok, now you know about the equity team and have
taken a moment to reflect

• Now lets look at some of the civil rights issues
  about which you need to be aware

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Heres what youll find

• State and System policies regarding
• Accommodations
• Integrated Settings
• Outreach
• Site Accessibility
• Alternative dispute resolution
• Communication
• Confidentiality
• Data and Record Maintenance
• Limited English Proficiency
• Sexual Harassment
• Filing a Grievance

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Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities
and Outreach Programs

• The college will make reasonable accommodations
  to the known physical/mental limitations of
  otherwise qualified applicants/students/employees.
  
• The college will make reasonable efforts to
  provide effective and equal opportunities to
  individuals with disabilities to participate or
  benefit from programs/services.
• The college will make reasonable efforts to
  attract and retain a diversity of
  employees/students.
• (see Equity Notebook in reference section of
  library for full descriptions)

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Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

• Mediation shall be the alternative dispute
  resolution choice available to civil rights/
  non-civil rights grievants.
• Mediation is not appropriate in all cases though.
• The request for mediation is time sensitive (15
  days from date of formal grievance)
• (see Equity Notebook in reference section of
  library for full descriptions)

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Auxiliary Aids Effective Communications for
Individuals with Disabilities

• The college will make every effort to make
  communication with individuals with disabilities
  as effective as communication with others.
• Appropriate auxiliary aids and services will be
  made available when necessary to ensure effective
  communication in the intake and assessment
  process.
• The individual with disability will choose the
  appropriate auxiliary aid or service. The
  staff/faculty must give that choice primary
  consideration.
• (see Equity Notebook in reference section of
  library for full descriptions)

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Confidentiality

• All information regarding students and employees
  is held in strict confidence.
• Data collected on applicants/students/employees
  is maintained in a secure site for not less than
  3 years.
• All records beyond the maintenance period will be
  destroyed in such a manner as to maintain
  confidentiality.
• (see Equity Notebook in reference section of
  library for full descriptions)

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Limited English Proficiency
(LEP)

• The college will develop and implement reasonable
  efforts to provide outreach services and language
  assistance to individuals with limited English
  proficiency who are eligible for or who apply for
  programs/activities.
• (see Equity Notebook in reference section of
  library for full descriptions)

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Sexual Harassment

• It is the policy of the state and college that
  sexual harassment by or against any employee or
  student will not be tolerated.
• The college will follow instituted policies,
  procedures and disciplinary guidelines when
  implementing this policy.

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Definition Sexual Harassment

• Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual
  favors and other verbal or physical contact of a
  sexual nature when

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• Such conduct interferes with work performance or
  creates a hostile/offensive work environment.
• Submission/rejection of such conduct is used as
  the basis of employment decisions.
• Submission is made either explicitly or
  implicitly a term/condition of employment.
• (see Equity Notebook in reference section of
  library for full descriptions)

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So, now you know more about the civil rights
policies

• Now its time to look at the complaint policies
  and procedures

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Filing a complaint

• Such complaints MUST be filed within 180 days
  from the date of the alleged violation.
• Any person who believes s/he has been the subject
  of discrimination may file a complaint with any
  of the following parties

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You or a student may file a discrimination
complaint with

• Any of the Equity Team members
• Any college official
• The Director of Human Resources at the CCSNH
  System Office
• Office for Civil Rights
• Director for Civil Rights
• NH Commission for Human Rights
• Equal Opportunity Commission for Human Rights
• see final screens for addresses

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Investigation Procedures

• 3 complaint procedures have been formulated
• Student or employee complaint about employee
• Student complaint about another student
• Employee complaint about student

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Summary of a complaint procedure

• Once a discrimination
• complaint has been received,
• an investigation will commence,
• a report issued and a final
• decision/action rendered by the
• appropriate college/system authority.
• (see Equity Notebook in reference section of
  library for full descriptions)

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How to Register a Formal Grievance (non-civil
rights)

• Employees See Equity Notebook in reference
  section of library for full descriptions for
  matters involving non-civil rights issues, or
  contact Sara Sawyer at Central Office

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Grievance Policies and Procedures (non-civil
rights)

• See Equity Notebook in reference section of
  library for full descriptions
• Employees Contact Sara Sawyer at Central Office

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Where to file a complaint

• Equity Team
• Emma Clifford, room 234, ext. 5421
• Susan Parry, room 209, ext. 5415
• Diane Carroll, room 238, ext. 5341
• Laurie Clute, room 178, ext. 5419
• Deborah Lafko, room 143, ext. 5332
• Jim McCarragher, room 210, ext. 5432
• Judy Pomiecko, room 143 ext. 5409
• River Valley Community College
• 1 College Drive
• Claremont, NH 03743
• Phone [phone] OR
  

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Addresses (continued)

• Sara Sawyer, Director of Human Resources
• Community College System of New Hampshire
• 26 College Drive
• Concord, NH 03301
• Phone [phone] OR

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Addresses (continued)

• US Dept. of Education
• Office of Civil Rights
• 33 Arch St, Suite 900
• Boston, MA 02110-1491
• Phone [phone] TDD [phone]
  Fax [phone] email OCR.Boston_at_ed.gov
  OR

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Addresses (continued)

• NH Commission for Civil Rights
• 2 Chennel Drive
• Concord, NH 03301
• Phone [phone] OR

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Addresses (continued)

• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• JFK Federal Building
• 475 Government Center
• Boston, MA 02203
• Phone [phone] or 1-800-669-4000, TTY
  1-617-565-3204 or 1-800-669-6820 OR

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Addresses (continued)

• Director, Civil Rights Center
• US Dept. of Labor
• 200 Constitution Ave NW
• Room N-4123
• Washington, DC 20210

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Questions?

• See Emma Clifford in room 234 or email at
  eclifford_at_ccsnh.edu