VI - 1.00 - Policy on Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity

Bowie State University (BSU) shall not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, age, ancestry or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, veteran status and any other protected status covered by State and/or Federal law.  All policies, programs and activities of BSU are and shall be in conformity with all pertinent Federal and state laws of nondiscrimination including, but not limited to: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Age Discrimination Act, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Federal Executive Order No. 11375 and Article 49B of the Annotated Code of Maryland.  This commitment applies in all areas and embraces faculty, staff and students.

Equal opportunity of access to academic and related programs shall be extended to all persons.  BSU shall have as its firm objective equal opportunity in recruitment and hiring, rate of pay, all other promotions, training, retention and dismissals, for all employees and applicants for employment.  The University will stress equal access for employees and applicants for employment to all programs and services provided by the BSU, both on and off campus.  BSU will also provide equal opportunity and an atmosphere of nondiscrimination with respect to women and members of minority groups in all its operations.  In addition, BSU shall promote equal opportunity and equal treatment through a positive and continuing Affirmative Action Program.

In adherence to the BSU’s Affirmative Action Plan (AAP), all personnel actions or programs that affect qualified individuals with disabilities or covered veterans, such as employment, promotion, demotion or transfer, recruitment, advertising, termination, rate of pay or other forms of compensation and selection for training, will be made without discrimination based on the individual's physical or mental disability or veterans' status. Employment decisions at BSU are based solely on job-related criteria.

BSU makes and will continue to make, reasonable accommodations to promote the employment of qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans, unless such accommodations would impose an undue hardship on BSU’s business.

The AAP includes an audit and reporting system which, among other things, measures the effectiveness of the AAP.  All managers and supervisors will take an active part in BSU's AAP to ensure that all qualified employees with disabilities, covered veterans and prospective employees are considered and treated in a non-discriminatory manner with respect to all employment decisions.  Furthermore, BSU will solicit the cooperation and support of all employees for BSU’s policy and AAP.

In accordance with public law, BSU’s plan of affirmative action for individuals with disabilities and covered veterans will be available for inspection in the Human Resources Department, during regular business hours, upon request.

In addition, employees and applicants will not be subjected to harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion or discrimination because they have engaged in, or may have engaged in, activities such as filing a complaint, assisting or participating in an investigation, compliance review, hearing or opposing any act or practice made unlawful or exercising any other right protected by State or Federal law.

Effective Date:  02/07/1994

Revised Date:  04/17/2012