President's Policy Statement

December 1, 2006

Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Program Policy Statement

The University of Texas at Austin is an equal employment opportunity employer. The University does not discriminate on any basis prohibited by applicable Federal and/or State law including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, citizenship status, Vietnam era or special disabled veteran status in recruitment, employment, promotion, compensation, benefits, or training. It is also the University's policy to maintain a work environment free from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The University of Texas at Austin remains committed to seeking the best-qualified person to fill each available position and will reward each employee based on his or her job performance.

As President, I reaffirm our pledge to base decisions on employment and promotion on the principle of equal employment opportunity. In addition, the University will ensure that all personnel actions will be administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, citizenship status, Vietnam era or special disabled veteran status, or sexual orientation.

This Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action policy shall be implemented throughout the University. It is the responsibility of all departments and personnel to ensure the University's compliance. Monitoring and reporting procedures for faculty and staff have been instituted and in operation for some years.

Equal Opportunity Services (EOS) has been established since 1973 at this University to investigate allegations of discrimination. Complaints regarding impermissible discrimination should be brought to EOS. Ms. Linda H. Millstone, Associate Vice President for Institutional Equity and Workforce Diversity and Director of Equal Opportunity Services, reports to the President on allegations of discrimination. She serves as the University's 504 and ADA Coordinator and is one of the University's Title IX Coordinators. Any member of the University Community who feels he or she has been discriminated against should contact Ms. Millstone at: Equal Opportunity Services, North Office Building A, Suite 4.302, Austin, Texas, 78713, or via e-mail at lindam@austin.utexas.edu or by phone at (512) 471-1849. All inquiries will be confidential, to the extent permitted by law. No employee should fear reprisals.

Equal Employment Opportunity is the law; discrimination is prohibited by the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Executive Order 11246, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, the Education Amendments of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Texas Labor Code, Chapter 21. Anyone who believes he or she has been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, citizenship status, or Vietnam era or special disabled veteran status may contact the United States Government's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (both of which are in San Antonio), or the Texas Workforce Commission, Civil Rights Division, which is located in Austin.

As University President, I commit this institution to fulfill both the spirit and the law of Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action.

William Powers, Jr.
President