Originator: President
University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) supports the University System of Maryland's (USM) Policy on Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (VI-1.00) approved by the Board of Regents on October 19, 1989 USM Policy on Sexual Misconduct (VI-1.60) approved by the Board of Regents on June 27, 2014, and the State of Maryland's Equal Employment Opportunity Program. In accordance with the USM's Policies and the State's Program, UMGC is committed to eliminating discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, religion, color, creed, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, political affiliation, mental or physical disability, or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. This Policy is established to prevent or eliminate such discrimination and harassment in accordance with due process while protecting the rights of students, faculty and staff. It represents UMGC's response to the need to establish policies and procedures that will ensure the existence of equal opportunity. In accordance with this commitment, UMGC has created this Policy and Procedures to:
UMGC will protect the confidentiality of complaints brought under this Policy and Procedures and the parties involved except to the extent that UMGC's ability to conduct an effective investigation is jeopardized or as otherwise provided by law, including, but not limited to, the Maryland Public Information Act and any lawfully issued subpoena. Complainants, Respondents, witnesses and all persons involved in investigations or in resolving a complaint of discrimination or harassment, shall make good faith efforts to keep confidential all information relating to a complaint. Failure to exercise good faith efforts in maintaining confidentiality may result in disciplinary actions and/or other serious sanctions.
In addition to filing a complaint under this Policy and Procedures, faculty, staff and applicants may contact external agencies including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. Students may contact the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). A person wishing to file a complaint with an external agency should contact the appropriate agency promptly in order to verify the time limits and deadlines for filing complaints.
Retaliation by UMGC faculty, staff, students, or contractors against an individual who makes a complaint of discrimination or harassment, participates in an investigation of a complaint, supports a complaint, or testifies concerning a complaint is expressly prohibited by this Policy and Procedures. Any UMGC faculty, staff, or student who encounters retaliation should immediately report such conduct to the Compliance Team member or his designee. An employee who is found to have retaliated is subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination. A student who is found to have retaliated is subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
Education is an extremely important tool in eradicating discrimination and sexual harassment from the UMGC workplace and educational programs. Training sessions in several formats can be made available to any UMGC employee or student who is interested. Employees in supervisory positions shall complete a training session as arranged by the Compliance Team member. Copies of this Policy and Procedures are available from members of the Compliance Team, in the Office of Diversity Initiatives and in the Office of Human Resources.
Current Policy | Prior Policy | |
Policy Number | 40.3 | 40.3 |
Date | 3/20/2015 | 3/1/2013 |