What is Affirmative Action?
Affirmative Action encourages equity in the workplace through planning and implementation of guidelines and practices designed to end exclusion of women, people of color, people with disabilities, and Vietnam-era veterans.
What does Equal Opportunity mean?
Equal opportunity is the right to be hired, to gain entry into institutions of higher education, and to be provided with equal consideration for promotions, training and privileges, regardless of race, national origin, gender, or other protected statuses.
What are the protected statuses under Equal Opportunity?
Protected statuses include age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran's status.
What is the role of OSU's Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity?
- We manage the University's affirmative action and equal opportunity efforts by establishing policies and procedures and by evaluating hiring and recruitment practices.
- We handle discrimination complaints through investigation and resolution. In addition, we have available educational brochures, training videos, and educational workshops.
- We also offer advice and assistance if you feel you have been discriminated against or you would like to better understand affirmative action and equal opportunity.
Why do we need affirmative action and equal opportunity at OSU?
- Women, people of color, and people with disabilities are not employed in the proportions in which they are qualified and available.
- Women and people of color may experience a "glass ceiling", which means they are not promoted to managerial and executive positions, even though they have the training and education necessary to perform at these levels.
- Within the student population certain racial and ethnic groups are not enrolled at the rate one would expect given the number of high school graduates.
- There is a continuing need to improve the "climate" on campus in order to create a welcoming environment for women, people of color, people with disabilities, and other groups facing discrimination.
Where can I go for more information?
For more information or to file a complaint, please call (541) 737-3556. The Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity is located at 526 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis OR 97331.
