last updated: Tuesday, June 29, 2004
The State University of New York Board of Trustees adopted an Equal Opportunity policy in 1971 calling for the development of a University-wide Affirmative Action Program to "detail actions designed to realize our University's commitment to equal employment; analyze employment patterns within the University; set forth plans to rectify any deficiencies; identify and remove impediments to equal opportunity; …provide for internal and external dissemination of University policy; pursue the commitment to equal opportunity throughout the institution; and provide for the review, assessment, evaluation, and improvement of University action in carrying out… Affirmative Action Programs." The SUNY Office for Affirmative Action has responsibility for implementation of this policy and for administering the SUNY Discrimination Grievance Procedure. At SUNY campuses, the Affirmative Action function is delegated responsibility for administering this grievance procedure.
Employees of SUNY campuses are assured equal opportunity without regard to race, sex, age, national origin, religion, marital status, pregnancy, disability, ex-offender status, or sexual orientation. In addition, Viet Nam Era Veterans and disabled veterans are ensured equal opportunity under the Viet Nam Era Veterans readjustment Act of 1974.
Equal Employment Opportunity Grievances
Any employee of a SUNY campus who believes that s/he has been discriminated again in any personnel decision or condition of employment may file a complaint with the Affirmative Action Office using SUNY's Internal Discrimination Grievance Procedure. Complaints may be filed externally with the local office of the Division of Human Rights or with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Complaints of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation may be filed with the Governor's Office of Employee Relations. Campus Affirmative Action Offices and/or Human Resources Departments will provide addresses, phone numbers, and filing procedures to any employee requesting such information. Although employees have the right to choose where they file complaints, SUNY campuses appreciate the opportunity to attempt to solve the complaints through the internal procedure before employees resort to external review agencies.
In addition to SUNY's University-wide Affirmative Action Statement, most, if not all, campuses of SUNY have developed their own statements that may be obtained from their Affirmative Action or Human Resources Offices and often may be found on their web pages.
References:
Age
Discrimination (ADEA)
Age Discrimination
(NYS Executive Order No. 96)
Americans with Disabilities
Act
Division of Human Rights (NYS)
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Equal Employment
Opportunity and Affirmative Action (NYS Executive Order No. 6)
Equal
Opportunity Policy Statement (NYS)
Executive Order
11246 (Affirmative Action)
Equal Pay Act of 1963
Federal Law Prohibiting Job Discrimination
Human Rights Law (NYS)
Office of Federal Contract
Compliance Programs (OFCCP)
Sexual Orientation
Discrimination (NYS Executive Order No. 33)
Title VII (Civil Rights Act of
1964)
Title VI (race,
color, sex, or national origin discrimination)
Title XI (sex discrimination)
Vietnam Era Veterans