Policy on Non-Discrimination

1 – Compliance Statement 

Article ID: 315 

https://easternct.makekb.com/index.php?View=entry&EntryID=315 
 
Eastern Connecticut State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, disability including learning disability, past or present history of a mental disability, genetic information, criminal record or other protected status, or sexual orientation in admission to, access to, or treatment in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding compliance policies: 

LaMar Coleman, Ed. D. 

Vice President for Equity and Diversity 
Gelsi-Young Hall, Room 255 

83 Windham Street 
Willimantic, CT 06226 

Telephone: (860) 465-5112 

Email: colemanla@easternct.edu 

Inquiries concerning the application of nondiscrimination policies may also be referred to the Regional Director, Office for Civil Rights, Boston, MA or the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. 

2 – CSU Policy Regarding Racism and Acts of Intolerance 

Article ID: 319 

https://easternct.makekb.com/index.php?View=entry&EntryID=319 

The Connecticut State University declares: 

• Institutions within the Connecticut State University have a duty to foster tolerance; 

• The promotion of racial, religious, and ethnic pluralism within the University is the responsibility of all individuals within the University community; 

• Every person within the University community should be treated with dignity and assured security and equality; 

• Individuals may not exercise personal freedoms in ways that invade or violate the rights of others; 

• Acts of violence and harassment reflecting bias or intolerance of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and ethnic or cultural origins are unacceptable; and 

• The University shall take appropriate corrective action if such acts of violence or harassment occur. 

Procedures 

Filing of Complaints 

If a student's conduct is alleged to be inconsistent with the standards of conduct of this document, or if a student is alleged to have committed a proscribed act under the Student Rights and Responsibilities document, a complaint may be filed in the Office of Student Affairs or Office of Housing and Residential Life (if the alleged act occurred in a university’s residence hall). 

If a faculty or staff member is alleged to have committed an act inconsistent with the Standards of Conduct, a complaint may be filed in the Office of Equity and Diversity. For more information on how to file a complaint, please visit:  

Complaints involving criminal acts motivated by bigotry or bias against any member of the University community shall be filed with the University Police. 

Resolution of Complaints 

STUDENTS 

When a complaint is filed against one or more students, the Office of Student Affairs will determine whether the offense is covered by the Students' Rights and Responsibilities document. If so, the complaint will be handled through the existing University student conduct process for resolving complaints against students. 

If the complaint is one of the offensive behavior or verbal harassment that does not meet the "fighting words" test,  

and is therefore not covered by the Student Conduct code, the complainant and the person alleged to have committed the offense will be referred to the Office of Equity and Diversity. Efforts will be made to resolve the complaint through mediation, conciliation, or education. This conciliation procedure will not result in a written record. 

FACULTY AND STAFF 

When a complaint is brought against a faculty or staff member, the complainant will be referred to the Office of Equity and Diversity. If the complaint is one of discrimination, sexual harassment, or conduct which meets the "fighting words" test, the complaint may be resolved through the University's Procedures for Investigating Discrimination and Harassment Complaints. 

Complaints involving offensive words or conduct, including those which do not meet the "fighting words" test, should be resolved by the Office of Equity and Diversity by mediation, conciliation, or education. Use of the conciliation procedure will not result in a written record. 

Establishment of procedure to record number, type and disposition of incidents, complaint, and grievances: 

University Police, as required by law, shall investigate, and report any such acts of intolerance deemed to be criminal offenses. 

All incidents of sexual harassment and discrimination will be reported to the Office of Equity and Diversity. That office will record the number, type and disposition of incidents, complaints, or grievances for an annual report to the President of the University. 

3 – Eastern Statement on Discrimination and Sexual Harassment 

Article ID: 323 

https://easternct.makekb.com/index.php?View=entry&EntryID=323 

Policy Statement 

It is the policy of Eastern Connecticut State University that unlawful discrimination is prohibited. Consequently, it shall be a violation of University’s policy for any member of the University community to discriminate against any individual with respect to any terms, conditions, or privileges relating to employment or attendance at the University because of such individual's race; color; religion; sex; national origin; age; sexual orientation; or any other conditions established by law. 

Sexual harassment is a type of discriminatory behavior. It is the policy of Eastern Connecticut State University that no member of the academic community may sexually harass another. The following definition of sexual harassment, consistent with federal and state laws, is adopted to help individuals recognize such behavior. 

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when: 1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or academic performance or advancement, 2) submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions affecting such individual, or 3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or academic environment. 

Gender harassment is a form of sexual harassment that consists of discriminatory behavior towards an individual based on gender. It includes the use of sexist or discriminatory language, illustrations, examples, and gestures. 

Confidentiality 

Eastern Connecticut State University will assure confidentiality within the limits of the law.  Dissemination of information related to any specific complaint will be limited to the extent possible in order that the privacy of all individuals involved is safeguarded. 

Procedure 

Individuals suspecting harassment or discrimination, or considering the filing of a complaint, may do so by completing the Bias Incident Reporting Form. The report is submitted directly to the Office of Equity and Diversity, who will respond via email or phone within 48 hours when the University is open to conduct additional inquiry and ensure the well-being of the affected individual(s) and campus community. 

  

Individuals will also be advised that they have the right to pursue a complaint through the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities or the federal Equal Employment Opportunities Commission. 

  

Except for students filing complaints against university professors from whom they are currently taking classes, complaints should be filed as soon as possible, and within 30 calendar days following the complainant's knowledge of the alleged discrimination or harassment. 

4 – Policy on Non-Discrimination 

Article ID: 333 

https://easternct.makekb.com/index.php?View=entry&EntryID=333 

The Office of Equity and Diversity is responsible for ensuring that the University is in compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations including, but not limited to, Title VII and Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Equal Pay Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. 

The Vice President for Equity and Diversity advises faculty, staff, and students on issues related to discrimination, sexual and racial harassment, and disability accommodations. The Vice President for Equity and Diversity serves as intake person for all complaints of discrimination, harassment, or acts of intolerance. All forms for processing discrimination complaints against employees are located in the Office of Equity and Diversity. 
  

LaMar Coleman, Ed.D.                                                                                                                   
Vice President for Equity and Diversity                                                      
Gelsi and Young Hall, Room 255                                                           
Telephone: (860) 465-5112                                                                                                
Email: Colemanla@easternct.edu                                                                                          
 
Brooks Scavone 
Director of AccessAbility Services 
Wood Support Services Center, Room 200 

Telephone (860) 465-5573 
E-Mail scavonek@easternct.edu 

5 – Policy Statement on Persons with Disabilities 

Article ID: 335 

https://easternct.makekb.com/index.php?View=entry&EntryID=335 

Eastern Connecticut State University is committed to the goal of achieving equal educational opportunity and full participation for persons with disabilities. Thus, no qualified person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination in any program or activity on this campus. 

A physical or functional impairment is a disability only to the extent that it contributes to cutting the person off from some valued experience, activity, or role. Higher education is therefore especially important to people with disabilities, since it aims to increase every student's access. Improving access for students and employees means removing existing barriers that are physical, programmatic, and attitudinal; it also means taking care not to erect new barriers along the way. 

As this University strives to accommodate people with disabilities, services and programs which best promote full participation and integration of people with disabilities may be necessary to complement and support the regular services and programs of the institution. 

Therefore, Eastern Connecticut State University commits itself to the process of identifying barriers to the full participation of people with disabilities and of developing strategies to overcome those barriers.