Employment Opportunities

• Educational institutions are required to enforce a policy of equal opportunity in the recruitment, training, and promotion of all employees and applicants for employment. The principle of equality must apply to compensation and programs designed to recognize employees and staff for outstanding job performance. All employees and staff should receive equality in treatment regardless of national origin, sex or sexual orientation, disability or physical limitation, military or veteran status, marital status, or your political beliefs or affiliation.
  
  

Educational Opportunites

• The goal of every educational institution should be to remove every barrier that would limit any student's access to academic opportunities. Equality in educational opportunities allows you to reach the greatest potential your abilities and talents will allow. Equality does not mean that every student will achieve at the same level, but that every student is free to pursue every academic program provided by a school. The equality policies of your school should provide procedures for redressing any educational discrimination you encounter.
  
  

Harassment

• Equality policies address discrimination caused by sexual and racial harassment. Sexual harassment includes comments and jokes directed at an individual, unwanted and unsolicited physical contact, and withholding opportunities to gain sexual favors. Racial harassment also includes comments and jokes, hazing, and withholding opportunities in an efforts to demean the individual. If you are a recipient of some form of harassment, you should avail yourself of procedures that have been established to provide you with protection and the enforcement of your rights.
  
  

Proactive Equality

• Equal opportunity policies do not provide full protection against discrimination unless school administrators are committed to extending non-discriminatory protection to every employee and student. Providing equal treatment to everyone in an educational institution promotes the ideals of human rights that are embodied in the nation's founding documents. Administrators must take affirmative action to ensure that each person is always treated fairly. Equal opportunity and non-discriminatory policies should also apply to vendors and visitors who come on the campus.
  
  

The Law

• State and federal laws have been established to provide protection and enforcement of the rights of every person in this country. Equal opportunity policies charge administrators with the responsibility to monitor and enforce compliance with laws and regulations that are designed to protect you against unfair treatment. The law provides significant legal sanctions against anyone who discriminates against another person. Successful enforcement of the law depends on administrators establishing an environment that empowers victims to come forward and report violations against themselves and others.