Equity Orientation Equity Orientation PowerPointPowerPoint Presentation Presentation

Developed by Laurie Clute, PT, MS Developed by Laurie Clute, PT, MS

Thanks to Wendy Smith for the wonderful graphics!Thanks to Wendy Smith for the wonderful graphics!

EQUITY EQUITY ORIENTATIONORIENTATION

What you need to know!What you need to know!

What is “equity”?What is “equity”?

The dictionary defines equity The dictionary defines equity as “the condition or quality as “the condition or quality of being just, impartial and of being just, impartial and fair”.fair”.

Equity assumes Equity assumes non-discriminationnon-discrimination

River Valley Community College Non-River Valley Community College Non-Discrimination PolicyDiscrimination Policy

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

Civil Rights Civil Rights Protected Categories:Protected Categories:

RaceRace ColorColor ReligionReligion National originNational origin AgeAge

GenderGender DisabilityDisability Veteran’s statusVeteran’s status Sexual orientationSexual orientation Marital statusMarital status

Campus Equity TeamCampus Equity Team Bet you didn’t know we had such a team Bet you didn’t know we had such a team

here!here!

Who is on the team?Who is on the team?

River Valley Community College River Valley Community College Equity Team Equity Team

Emma Clifford Emma Clifford (Chair)(Chair) Susan Parry Susan Parry (Co-chair)(Co-chair) Diane CarrollDiane Carroll Laurie Clute Laurie Clute Jim McCarragherJim McCarragher Judy PomieckoJudy Pomiecko

Goals of the Equity TeamGoals of the Equity Team Educate administration, Educate administration,

staff, faculty and staff, faculty and students regarding students regarding equity issues.equity issues.

Assess compliance with Assess compliance with applicable laws.applicable laws.

Receive and investigate Receive and investigate complaints filed that complaints filed that allege discrimination on allege discrimination on one or more bases.one or more bases.

Maintain documentation Maintain documentation of complaints, of complaints, investigations and investigations and resolutions.resolutions.

How sensitive are YOU to How sensitive are YOU to equity issues?equity issues?

Consider your answers to the Consider your answers to the following questions…following questions…

Question 1:Question 1:Do you use language that is free Do you use language that is free

from racial, ethnic and sexual from racial, ethnic and sexual slurs at all times?slurs at all times?

You should hang out with “your kind.”

That is so “gay.”I am not “that way.”

Don’t be an “Indian giver.”They are all “red necks.”

She is such a “WASP.”

Question 2:Question 2: Have you thought about how your own Have you thought about how your own

gender, race, ethnicity and social class gender, race, ethnicity and social class influence how you interact with others?influence how you interact with others?

What do you think of a “stay at home Dad” versus a “stay at home Mom”?

Americans like guns.

Black people are the best athletes. Men are stronger than women.Lower class people are uneducated.

Jewish people are good with money.

Asian people are good at math.Americans are fat.

Chinese people are very competitive.

French people love food.

Question 3:Question 3: Do you remove any materials that are Do you remove any materials that are

offensive or that show disrespect for one offensive or that show disrespect for one gender or the other?gender or the other?

Question 4:Question 4:

Do you use gender-free language and Do you use gender-free language and occupational titles? occupational titles?

firefighter rather than firemanfirefighter rather than fireman

police officer rather than police manpolice officer rather than police man server rather than waitress/waiterserver rather than waitress/waiter

Ok, now you know about Ok, now you know about the equity team and have the equity team and have

taken a moment to taken a moment to reflect…reflect…

Now let’s look at some of the Now let’s look at some of the civil rights issues about which civil rights issues about which

you need to be aware…you need to be aware…

Here’s what you’ll find:Here’s what you’ll find:

State and System policies regarding:State and System policies regarding: AccommodationsAccommodations Integrated SettingsIntegrated Settings OutreachOutreach Site AccessibilitySite Accessibility Alternative dispute resolutionAlternative dispute resolution CommunicationCommunication ConfidentialityConfidentiality Data and Record MaintenanceData and Record Maintenance Limited English ProficiencyLimited English Proficiency Sexual HarassmentSexual Harassment Filing a GrievanceFiling a Grievance

Accommodations for Individuals with Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities Disabilities

and Outreach Programsand Outreach Programs The college will make reasonable accommodations to The college will make reasonable accommodations to

the known physical/mental limitations of otherwise the known physical/mental limitations of otherwise qualified applicants/students/employees.qualified applicants/students/employees.

The college will make reasonable efforts to provide The college will make reasonable efforts to provide effective and equal opportunities to individuals with effective and equal opportunities to individuals with disabilities to participate or benefit from disabilities to participate or benefit from programs/services.programs/services.

The college will make reasonable efforts to attract and The college will make reasonable efforts to attract and retain a diversity of employees/students.retain a diversity of employees/students.

(see Equity Notebook in reference section of library for full descriptions)(see Equity Notebook in reference section of library for full descriptions)

Alternative Dispute Resolution Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)(ADR)

Mediation shall be the alternative dispute resolution Mediation shall be the alternative dispute resolution choice available to civil rights/ non-civil rights grievants.choice available to civil rights/ non-civil rights grievants.

Mediation is not appropriate in all cases though.Mediation is not appropriate in all cases though.

The request for mediation is time sensitive (15 days The request for mediation is time sensitive (15 days from date of formal grievance)from date of formal grievance)

(see Equity Notebook in reference section of library for full descriptions)(see Equity Notebook in reference section of library for full descriptions)

Auxiliary Aids & Effective Auxiliary Aids & Effective Communications for Individuals with Communications for Individuals with

DisabilitiesDisabilities

The college will make every effort to make communication The college will make every effort to make communication with individuals with disabilities as effective as communication with individuals with disabilities as effective as communication with others.with others.

Appropriate auxiliary aids and services will be made available Appropriate auxiliary aids and services will be made available when necessary to ensure effective communication in the when necessary to ensure effective communication in the intake and assessment process. intake and assessment process.

The individual with disability will choose the appropriate The individual with disability will choose the appropriate auxiliary aid or service. The staff/faculty must give that auxiliary aid or service. The staff/faculty must give that choice “primary consideration”.choice “primary consideration”.

(see Equity Notebook in reference section of library for full descriptions)(see Equity Notebook in reference section of library for full descriptions)

ConfidentialityConfidentiality

All information regarding students and employees All information regarding students and employees is held in strict confidence.is held in strict confidence.

Data collected on applicants/students/employees is Data collected on applicants/students/employees is maintained in a secure site for not less than 3 maintained in a secure site for not less than 3 years.years.

All records beyond the maintenance period will be All records beyond the maintenance period will be destroyed in such a manner as to maintain destroyed in such a manner as to maintain confidentiality.confidentiality.

(see Equity Notebook in reference section of library for full descriptions)(see Equity Notebook in reference section of library for full descriptions)

Limited English ProficiencyLimited English Proficiency (LEP) (LEP)

The college will develop and implement The college will develop and implement reasonable efforts to provide outreach reasonable efforts to provide outreach services and language assistance to services and language assistance to individuals with limited English proficiency individuals with limited English proficiency who are eligible for or who apply for who are eligible for or who apply for programs/activities.programs/activities.

(see Equity Notebook in reference section of library for full descriptions)(see Equity Notebook in reference section of library for full descriptions)

Sexual HarassmentSexual Harassment

It is the policy of the state and college that It is the policy of the state and college that sexual harassment by or against any sexual harassment by or against any employee or student will not be tolerated.employee or student will not be tolerated.

The college will follow instituted policies, The college will follow instituted policies, procedures and disciplinary guidelines when procedures and disciplinary guidelines when implementing this policy. implementing this policy.

Definition: Definition: Sexual Harassment Sexual Harassment

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

Such conduct interferes with work Such conduct interferes with work performance or creates a hostile/offensive performance or creates a hostile/offensive work environment.work environment.

Submission/rejection of such conduct is Submission/rejection of such conduct is used as the basis of employment decisions.used as the basis of employment decisions.

Submission is made either explicitly or Submission is made either explicitly or implicitly a term/condition of employment.implicitly a term/condition of employment.

(see Equity Notebook in reference section of library for full (see Equity Notebook in reference section of library for full descriptions)descriptions)

So, now you know more about the So, now you know more about the civil rights policies…civil rights policies…

Now it’s time to look Now it’s time to look at the complaint at the complaint policies and policies and procedures…procedures…

Filing a complaintFiling a complaint

Such complaints MUST be filed within 180 Such complaints MUST be filed within 180 days from the date of the alleged days from the date of the alleged violationviolation..

Any person who believes s/he has been Any person who believes s/he has been the subject of discrimination may file a the subject of discrimination may file a complaint with any of the following complaint with any of the following parties…parties…

You may file a discrimination You may file a discrimination complaint with…complaint with…

1.1. Any of the Equity Team membersAny of the Equity Team members2.2. Any college officialAny college official3.3. The Director of Human Resources at the The Director of Human Resources at the

CCSNH System Office CCSNH System Office 4.4. Office for Civil RightsOffice for Civil Rights5.5. Director for Civil RightsDirector for Civil Rights6.6. NH Commission for Human RightsNH Commission for Human Rights7.7. Equal Opportunity Commission for Human Equal Opportunity Commission for Human

RightsRights see final screens for addressessee final screens for addresses

Investigation ProceduresInvestigation Procedures 3 complaint procedures* have been formulated:3 complaint procedures* have been formulated:

– Student complaint about employeeStudent complaint about employee

– Student complaint about another studentStudent complaint about another student

– Employee complaint about studentEmployee complaint about student

*Employee complaint about employee goes directly to *Employee complaint about employee goes directly to Human Resources.Human Resources.

Summary of a complaint Summary of a complaint procedure:procedure:

Once a discriminationOnce a discriminationcomplaint has been received, complaint has been received, an investigation will commence, an investigation will commence, a report issued and a final a report issued and a final decision/action rendered by thedecision/action rendered by theappropriate college/system authority. appropriate college/system authority.

(see Equity Notebook in reference section of library for full (see Equity Notebook in reference section of library for full descriptions)descriptions)

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

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

Grievance Policies and Procedures Grievance Policies and Procedures (non-civil rights)(non-civil rights)

See Equity Notebook in reference section of See Equity Notebook in reference section of library for full descriptionslibrary for full descriptions

Employees: Contact Sara Sawyer at Central OfficeEmployees: Contact Sara Sawyer at Central Office

Where to file a complaintWhere to file a complaint Equity Team:Equity Team:

Emma Clifford room 234 ext. 5421Emma Clifford room 234 ext. 5421Susan Parry room 209 ext. 5415Susan Parry room 209 ext. 5415Diane Carroll room 238, ext. 5341Diane Carroll room 238, ext. 5341Laurie Clute room 178 ext. 5419Laurie Clute room 178 ext. 5419Jim McCarragher, room 210, ext. 5432Jim McCarragher, room 210, ext. 5432Judy Pomiecko, room 143 ext. 5409Judy Pomiecko, room 143 ext. 5409

Phone: 542-7744Phone: 542-7744 OROR

River Valley Community College1 College PlaceClaremont, NH 03743

Keene Academic CenterWashington Street Keene, NH 03431

Addresses (continued)Addresses (continued) Sara Sawyer, Sara Sawyer, Director of Human ResourcesDirector of Human Resources Community College System of New Community College System of New

HampshireHampshire 26 College Drive26 College Drive Concord, NH 03301Concord, NH 03301

Phone: (603) 271-6300Phone: (603) 271-6300 OROR

Addresses (continued)Addresses (continued) US Dept. of EducationUS Dept. of Education Office of Civil RightsOffice of Civil Rights 33 Arch St, Suite 90033 Arch St, Suite 900 Boston, MA 02110-1491Boston, MA 02110-1491

Phone: (617) 289-0111 TDD: (877) 521-2172 Phone: (617) 289-0111 TDD: (877) 521-2172 Fax: (617) 289-0150 email: Fax: (617) 289-0150 email: OCR.Boston@ed.gov OCR.Boston@ed.gov OROR

Addresses (continued)Addresses (continued) NH Commission for Civil RightsNH Commission for Civil Rights 2 Chennel Drive2 Chennel Drive Concord, NH 03301Concord, NH 03301

Phone: (603) 271-2767Phone: (603) 271-2767 OROR

Addresses (continued)Addresses (continued) Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionEqual Employment Opportunity Commission JFK Federal BuildingJFK Federal Building 475 Government Center475 Government Center Boston, MA 02203Boston, MA 02203

Phone: (617) 565-3200 or 1-800-669-4000, Phone: (617) 565-3200 or 1-800-669-4000, TTY 1-617-565-3204 or 1-800-669-6820TTY 1-617-565-3204 or 1-800-669-6820 OROR

Addresses (continued)Addresses (continued) Director, Civil Rights CenterDirector, Civil Rights Center US Dept. of LaborUS Dept. of Labor 200 Constitution Ave NW200 Constitution Ave NW Room N-4123Room N-4123 Washington, DC 20210Washington, DC 20210

You Are Done!!You Are Done!! Thanks for taking the time to learn about Equity at Thanks for taking the time to learn about Equity at

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