President’s Policy Statement

December 1, 2011

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 or tolerate harassment 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 and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The University of Texas at Austin fosters an environment of open communication and is committed to protecting individuals from retaliation who participate or engage in protected activities.

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, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

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.

The Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) has been established at this University to investigate allegations of discrimination, harassment and retaliation against any individual on any basis prohibited by applicable law or university policy. Any member of the University Community who feels he or she has been subjected to discrimination, harassment or retaliation should contact the Office of Institutional Equity, North Office Building A, Suite 4.302, Austin, Texas, 78713, via email at oie@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 as it is the mission of OIE to serve the university in fulfilling the intent and spirit of equal opportunity laws by providing equitable resolutions to complaints and striving for an environment free of discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

Equal Employment Opportunity is the law; discrimination, harassment and retaliation are prohibited by the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 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 Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008, and the Texas Labor Code, Chapter 21. Anyone who believes he or she has been subjected to discrimination, harassment or retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, citizenship status, Vietnam era, special disabled veteran status, or other protected category may also contact the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, or the Texas Workforce Commission, Civil Rights Division.

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

William Powers, Jr.
President