Celebrating Diversity
University of South Carolina
Diversity resource Manual
University of South Carolina
Office of Equal Opportunity Programs
Celebrating Diversity
University of South Carolina
Diversity resource Manual
University of South Carolina
Office of Equal Opportunity Programs
Table of Contents
StatementfromthePresident 2
Introduction 3
DiversityInitiativesandResources 4
FacultyandStaffResources 4
StudentResources 8
DiversityGoals 12
Statement from the President
T
heUniversityofSouthCarolina,asthestate’sflagshipUniversity,hasauniqueanddiverse
history.Today,aswemovethisUniversityforward,wecanreflectonthathistoryandlookat
thetremendousprogressthisUniversityhasmadeinpromotingdiversitybyouractionsandour
deeds.ThisisindirectcontrasttowherewewerehistoricallywhenblacksandwomenwereprohibitedbylawfromattendingtheUniversity.
OneofmyfirstactsuponbecomingpresidentoftheUniversitywastotaskourexecutiveleadership
team,alongwithourfaculty,staff,andstudents,withthedevelopmentofanewfocusedstrategic
planfordiversity.Overthenextseveralmonths,Iwillworkwiththistaskforcetoensureourstrategicplanfordiversityisfullyimplemented.Wemustdothistoensurewecancontinuetomeetthe
needsofanincreasinglydiversepopulationandaglobaleconomyinwhichwemustbepreparedto
competeasagreatUniversity.
Weproudlynotethatourmissionistheeducationofthestate’sdiversecitizensandstudents
throughteaching,research,andservice.ThediversityoftheUniversityofSouthCarolinatoday
includesandreflectsthepresenceofdifferentcultures,languages,ethnicities,races,genders,sexual
orientations,andreligiousgroups.Wemustvalueourdifferences,andwelearnandgrowbyencouraginginteractioninthegreaterUniversitycommunity.Wearefullycommittedtocreatingan
inclusiveenvironmentandinstitutionalclimateattheUniversityofSouthCarolinawheremulticulturalperspectivesandrelationshipscandevelopandcreatelearningopportunities,aswestriveto
fulfillourmissionofteaching,research,andservice.
AttheUniversityofSouthCarolina,wehavedevelopedprograms,policies,andproceduresthat
promotediversityandequalopportunitywhileaddressingdiscriminationinbothacademicand
non-academicarenas.Weknowthatbyfullyembracingdiversitywewillcontinuetoattractworldclassfaculty,staff,andstudents.Thisdiversityresourcemanualdetailsourcurrentpolicies,procedures,andon-goingprogrammingthatdemonstratesoursupportandcommitmenttodiversity.
AspresidentoftheUniversity,IenvisiontheUniversityofSouthCarolinaasaplacewhereour
diversityisnotonlymeasuredinnumbers,butalsointheinclusiveandwelcomingclimatethatwe
putondisplayeachandeverydayinourcommunity.
HarrisPastides
President
2
Introduction
T
heUniversityofSouthCarolinawascharteredin1801andtodayservesasthestate’sflagship
university,withthreeseniorcampusesandfourregionalcampuseslocatedstrategicallyaroundthe
state.TheUniversityofSouthCarolinaisaglobalinstitution/enterprisethatservesthestate,thenation,
andtheworldthroughitsoutreachandpublicservice.Asaninstitutionofresearchandhigherlearning,
ourcommunityiscomposedoffaculty,staff,students,andalumnifromaroundtheworld.Weviewthis
diversityofbackgroundsandculturesasanasset,andwearecommittedtocreatinganenvironmentin
whichequityandmutualrespectforourdifferencesflourishandenrichourUniversitycommunity.
WeareespeciallyproudofthefactthatourdiversityinitiativeshavebeenrecognizedbytheJournal of
Blacks in Higher EducationandbyDiverse MagazineasitrelatestoflagshipuniversitiesinAmericawiththe
highestpercentageofAfrican-Americanstudents(14.7percent)anddegreerecipients.Wearealsoamong
theleadingflagshipuniversitiesinAmericainthediversityofourAfrican-Americanfacultyandstaff.In
addition,Latin TrademagazinerankstheUniversityofSouthCarolina’sMooreSchoolofBusinessamong
thetopfivebusinessschoolsintheworldforMBAprogramsforLatinAmericans.Webelievethatthese
successstoriesreflectthatwehaveinplaceattheUniversityresourcestofullysupportourdiversityefforts
anddemonstrateourcommitmenttothefuture.
Keycomponentsofourdiversityresourcemanualincludetraininganddevelopmentprogramsandservices
forourfaculty,staff,andstudentsonaccess,mentoring,andretentionissues.Accessinvolves,butisnot
limitedto,recruitmentandsupportiveservices,andourmentoringprogramsenhanceourretentionefforts
forourfaculty,staff,andstudentsaswegrowtheUniversity.Diversityservicesareprovidedbyvaried
officesoncampusandprovidesupportforfaculty,staff,andstudents.
TheUniversityofSouthCarolina’scommitmenttodiversityisbestdemonstratedintheCarolinianCreed,
whichdescribesusasa“communityofscholarsdedicatedtopersonalandacademicexcellence”wherewe
“willpracticepersonalandacademicfreedom,…willrespectthedignityofallpersons,…willdiscourage
bigotry,strivingtolearnfromdifferencesinpeople,ideas,andopinions…anddiscouragebehaviorswhich
threatenthefreedomandrespectallUniversityofSouthCarolinacommunitymembersdeserve.”The
CarolinianCreed,whichisprovidedtoallstudentsupontheiradmissionandservesasourcodeofcivility,
bestexemplifiesthetypeofinstitutionalclimatethatwestrivetoachievewithourdiversityefforts.We
believeitiseverymemberoftheUniversityfamily’sresponsibilitytosupportaclimateofrespectforothers
andcivilityandtoensureequityinboththeacademicandnonacademicarenas.Finally,webelievethat
ourcommitmenttodiversityisevidentinouractionsandourdeedsandistodayanintegralpartofour
institutionalcultureattheUniversityofSouthCarolina.
For further information on diversity services listed in this manual, please visit the University’s Web site at
www.sc.edu. Select the “A to Z Index” link in the left-hand navigation bar to access an alphabetical listing of
departments and programs. You can also contact the Office of Equal Opportunity programs at 803-777-3854.
3
Diversity Initiatives and Resources
Faculty and Staff Resources
Office of Equal Opportunity Programs
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Grievance/Complaint Processing Procedures—The Office of
Equal Opportunity Programs is mandated by the president of the University to develop EEO grievance/
complaint processing procedures to ensure that applicants for employment, employees, prospective
students, and enrolled students at the University of South Carolina are provided equal opportunity and
equal access and are protected against illegal discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national
origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, and veteran status. These complaint processing procedures are
made available to all faculty, staff, students, prospective students, and the general public online at the
Office of Equal Opportunity Programs Web site. Persons who feel that they have been subjected to illegal
discrimination or denied equal opportunity in employment or regarding any program, services, or service
offered by the University are encouraged to consult the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs.
Access and Equity—The Office of Equal Opportunity Programs houses the University Access and Equity
Program. Through grant funding, the Office of Access and Equity develops programs and services designed
to address the issues of access and declining enrollment of minority and disadvantaged students. These
programs and services create academic enrichment and career development opportunities for minority and
underrepresented students. One such initiative is the Graduate Incentive Scholarship Program (GIS). As a
need-based scholarship program, GIS provides tuition assistance for minority and disadvantaged graduate
students. Access and equity funding is provided by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education,
and the University provides matching funds through the Office of the Provost.
Affirmative Action—The University of South Carolina is required to have an approved affirmative
action plan by state and federal law. The Office of Equal Opportunity Programs is responsible for the
development and updating of this plan on an annual basis and for submitting a goal achievement report to
the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission as required by the South Carolina General Assembly. In
South Carolina, all state agencies, such as the University, are required to track the hiring and promotion of
all employees with specific goals being established for underrepresented groups on the basis of race and sex.
Diversity Training and Development—The Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, in partnership with
the Division of Human Resources Professional Development Office, offers an ongoing series of classes on
the topic “Diversity in the Workplace.” Designed to enhance employees’ understanding and development
of cultural competence, the classes are offered each semester. In addition, the staff from the Office of Equal
Opportunity Programs presents workshops for individual departments and offices on request and, based
upon need, diversity training and development for faculty, staff, and students.
Equal Opportunity (Staff and Faculty Searches)—The Office of Equal Opportunity Programs
assists academic departments that are searching for qualified potential faculty members. The Office of
Equal Opportunity Programs provides hiring committees with underutilized statistics and publishes a
recruitment manual, Strengthening Academic Excellence Through Affirmative Recruiting. Representatives
from the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs also meet regularly with hiring committees to discuss
important issues involved in hiring and promotion and provide technical assistance on request.
Training—The Office of Equal Opportunity Programs conducts EEO/Affirmative Action and diversity
training on these relevant issues to educate USC’s faculty, staff, and students. By providing ongoing
personal and professional development training opportunities, our overall goal is to help increase the
University’s faculty, staff, and student awareness and effectiveness—and their ability to contribute to the
success of the University.
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Diversity Initiatives and Resources
Faculty and Staff Resources
Diversity Outreach Programs—TheOfficeofEqualOpportunityProgramsischargedwithdeveloping
aseriesofdiversityoutreachinitiatives.Theseinitiativesseektoincreasethenumberofminorityand
disadvantagedstudentswhoarepursuinghighereducationcareersaswellaspursuingdegreesinareas
whereinminoritiesareunderrepresented,suchasmath,science,medicine,andengineering.Onesuch
initiativeistheGrassrootsInitiativetoFosterTalentedStudents(theGIFTSProject).
Statistical Reporting (Federal and State)—TheOfficeofEqualOpportunityProgramsregularly
providesdepartments,colleges,andcampusesoftheUniversitystatisticaldataonapplicantavailability
andunderutilization.Inaddition,theofficeprovidesEEOreportsandrelateddatatobothfederaland
stateregulatoryagenciesasitrelatestotheemploymentofallfacultyandstaffonthebasisofrace,sex,
disability,andveteranstatus.
Staff Support for Search Committees—TheOfficeofEqualOpportunityProgramsoffersstaffsupport
forsearchcommitteesbycreatinganupdatedstatisticalworksheetofunderutilizedfacultymembersin
specificcollegesandworkareasandmeetswithsearchcommitteesinanadvisorycapacitytoanswerany
questionsthatmayariseduringthesearchcommitteesprocessasitrelatestohiringandpromotion.
Complaint Processing—TheOfficeofEqualOpportunityProgramsconductstimelyinvestigations
ofcomplaintsthatarefiled,examiningequalopportunityreportingandadministrativepoliciestoset
newstrategiesforapositiveimpactondiversityandtheeliminationofdiscriminationofanykindinthe
workplaceorclassroom.
President’s Office
President’s Community Advisory Committee—ThePresident’sCommunityAdvisoryCommitteeis
madeupofcommunityleadersthatareinvolvedinpolitical,social,civic,legal,andadvocacywork.This
committeefocusesondiversityissuesandadvocatesforfaculty,staff,andstudents.Thiscommitteemeets
onaquarterlyoras-neededbasistodiscussdiverseissuesthatthepresidentwouldliketohaveaddressed.
Theseissuesmayinclude,butarenotlimitedto,academicissues,athleticissues,employmentissues,access
andequityissues,andbusinessdevelopmentandprocurementissues.Membershipalsoincludesappointed
staffandfacultymemberswhoprovidestaffsupportandresourceinformationonanas-neededbasis.
Office of the Provost
Affirmative Action Advisory Committee—Thiscommitteeisappointedtoadvisethepresident,the
executiveassistanttothepresidentforequalopportunityprograms,andotherkeyadministratorsonmatters
relatingtoequalemploymentopportunityandaffirmativeactioneffortsandachievementattheUniversity.
Disability Affairs Committee—ThiscommitteeaddressesandadvisestheUniversityadministration
concerningaccessibilityissuesoncampus.ItsgoalistoensurefairandequalaccesstoallUniversity
resourcesforstudents,faculty,andstaffwhohavedisabilitiesasdefinedbystateandfederallaw.
Committee on Religious Affairs—Thiscommitteeoverseesthereligiouslifeprogramsoncampusand
makessuchrecommendationstothepresidentasmaybeappropriatetoensureallreligiousviewsand
beliefsareaccommodatedinanondiscriminatorymannerattheUniversity.
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Diversity Initiatives and Resources
Faculty and Staff Resources
Retention Committee—Thiscommitteeprovidescampusleadershipinthestudyandpromotionof
studentretention,progression,academicsuccess,anddegreecompletionattheUniversity.
Veteran’s Advisory Committee—Thiscommitteeservesasanadvocateforfacultyandstaffmemberswho
areveteransofthearmedforcesbymonitoringpoliciesandproceduresthatmayimpactveteransofthe
armedforceswhoareenrolledattheUniversity.
Women’s Issues Advisory Committee—Thiscommitteeservesasanadvocateforfemalefaculty,staff,
andstudentsbymonitoringthestatusofwomenoncampusandrecommendingpolicyandactionsthat
promoteequityandimprovementinthequalityofthecampusclimateforwomenattheUniversity.
University Ombudsman—TheUniversityombudsmanfunctionsonaninformalbasisbyreceiving
fromandprovidinginformationtofacultymemberswhenthereisreasonforthefacultymembernot
toworkthroughhisorherdepartmentchairordean.Theombudsmanservesasadesignatedneutral,
remainingunalignedandimpartialwhilestrivingforfairnessandobjectivityinthetreatmentoffaculty
andconsiderationoffacultyissuesattheUniversity.
Faculty Salary Equity Oversight Committee—Thiscommitteewascreatedtobeanadvisorycommittee
totheprovostregardingmattersofsalaryequityforfaculty.OnanannualbasistheOfficeofInstitutional
AssessmentandComplianceperformsastatisticalanalysisoffacultysalaries.Thiscommitteeusesthe
resultsoftheanalysistoidentifyfacultywhosesalariesappeartobebelowthoseexpectedforindividuals
ofsimilarrank,discipline,timeinservice,andothercharacteristics.Respectivedeansarethenasked
toexplainthesecases.Thecommitteethensubmitsareporttotheprovost,whointurnreportstothe
facultyoftheUniversitysummarizingthefindings.Thecommitteeconsistsofsixmembers;threeare
administratorsselectedbythepresident,andthreearefacultymembersselectedbytheprovost.Where
appropriate,salaryequityadjustmentsmaybemade.
Faculty Grievance Committee—Thiscommittee,whichisbasedintheOfficeoftheUniversity
Ombudsman,considersindividualgrievances,includinggrievancesregardingsalarymatters,brought
beforeitbymembersofthefaculty.Whenagrievanceisdeterminedtobewell-founded,thecommittee
attemptstoresolvethematterthroughmediationorotherappropriateaction.Thiscommitteeconsistsof
nineelectedmembersforstaggeredthree-yeartermsandoneex-officiomemberfromtheFacultySalary
EquityOversightCommitteeappointedbytheprovost.
Provost Fund—Thisfundwascreatedtoensurecollegedeansareprovidedadditionalone-timeresources
tomakecompetitiveofferstooutstandingpotentialfacultywhomaybeclassifiedasbeingfroman
underrepresentedgroupforwhichthecollegedeanisattemptingtorecruit.Thesefundsareconsideredas
extraincentivefunds.
African American Professors Program—TheAfricanAmericanProfessorsProgramisaninitiative
sponsoredbytheUniversityofSouthCarolina,theW.K.KellogFoundation,andtheSouthCarolina
GeneralAssemblyandisdesignatedtorecruit,train,andprepareAfricanAmericanstudentstobecome
collegeanduniversityprofessorsbyassistingthemtoobtaindoctoraldegrees.Thisprogramoriginatedin
theDepartmentofEducationalLeadershipandPoliciesintheCollegeofEducationandisnowhousedin
theOfficeoftheProvost.
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Diversity Initiatives and Resources
Faculty and Staff Resources
Division of Human Resources
International Support for Faculty and Staff—This office supports international exchange and ensures
compliance with various federal requirements for international faculty and staff at the University. This
office provides comprehensive consultation, counseling and support services for U.S. and foreign faculty
and staff throughout the eight-campus University system, including the School of Law, School of
Medicine, and affiliate institutes.
Professional Development—The Office of Professional Development supports the development of
knowledgeable, skillful, and productive University employees through lifelong learning. The University’s
professional development programs are designed to improve individual and organizational performance
and help the University achieve overall institutional goals. Training programs have been carefully developed
to help employees increase their effectiveness by building and refining job skills and by gaining greater
knowledge of University operations. Developmental programs prepare personnel for increased or new
responsibilities and broaden individuals as a whole.
Employee Relations—The Employee Relations Office deals with a variety of issues surrounding the work
environment of employees on all campuses of the University. Employee relations services include, but are
not limited to:
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providingindependentcounselingtoemployeesand/orsupervisorstoresolvework-related
problemsthatmayrelatedtoperformance-and/ordiscipline-basedissues
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mediating disputes and advising all sides involved in matters relating to employee relations and
human resources policies
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coordinatingEmployeeAssistanceProgram(EAP)services
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administering the staff grievance process
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monitoringtheEmployeePerformanceManagementSystem(EPMS)
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counseling and reviewing reduction-in-force plans (RIF)
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administeringtheUniversity’sunemploymentinsuranceprogram.
Issuesorproblemsthatariseintheworkplacemaybeaddressedwiththeimmediatesupervisor,
departmentchair,ordean.EmployeesalsocanvisittheEmployeeRelationsOfficetoreceiveadvice,
counseling,andsuggestionsonhowtodealwithanyworkplaceissue,personalconcern,orproblemswith
coworkersand/orsupervisors.
Salary Administration Data—TheSalaryAdministrationOfficedirectstheday-to-dayoperationsand
long-rangeplanningforallUniversitypersonnelrecordsmanagementanddatastorage,staffclassification
andcompensation,facultyandotherunclassifiedcompensation,FTEmanagement,allaspectsof
temporarynonstudentemployment,andallmeansofextracompensation.
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Diversity Initiatives and Resources
Student Resources
Professional/Graduate and Undergraduate
Services and Support
Office of Disability Services/Educational Support—TheOfficeofDisabilityServices(ODS)assists
studentswithdisabilitiesintheircollegelifeexperiencethroughanintegrationofon-campusservices.
Thestaffisavailabletoassiststudentsincoordinatingandobtainingservicesavailablethroughavariety
ofUniversitydepartmentsandserviceareas.
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Deaf/HardofHearing—Thosedeaf/hardofhearingstudentswhousesignlanguageareprovided
interpretersforanyUniversity-sponsoredprogramorservice.TheOfficeofDisabilityServices
contractswithappropriateagenciesforinterpretingservices.Studentswhodonotusesign
languageareprovidednote-takers.Itisrecommendedthatstudentspresenttheiracademic
schedulestotheOfficeofDisabilityServicesinadvanceanduponcompletionofregistration.
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LearningDisabilities—Studentswithlearningdisabilitiesareeligibleforavarietyofresources
designedtoaccommodatetheirlearningneeds,basedoncurrentdocumentationoftheirdisability.
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MobilityImpaired—TheUniversityofSouthCarolinaisprogram-accessibletomobility-impaired
students.Limitedmodifiedhousingisavailableinvariousresidencehallsacrossthecampus.
Adaptedtransportationisavailableformobility-impairedstudentstoallacademicallyrelated
activitiesfrom8a.m.to5p.m.MondaythroughFriday.
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VisuallyImpaired—TheOfficeofDisabilityServicesprovidesassistancetostudentswithvisual
impairment.Readersandnote-takersarerecruitedasrequestedbystudentseachsemester.Books
maybeorderedbystudentsfromRecordingsfortheBlindandDyslexic,andinformationabout
otherlibraryservicesisprovideduponrequest.
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TheUniversityofSouthCarolina’spolicyistoprovidestudentsapromptandequitablemethod
ofresolvingcomplaintsalleginganyactionprohibitedbytheU.S.DepartmentofEducation
regulationsimplementingSection504oftheRehabilitationActof1973,asamended(29U.S.C.
794)andtheAmericanswithDisabilitiesActof1990.
Adapted Housing—InaccordancewithSection504oftheRehabilitationActof1973andtheAmericans
withDisabilitiesActof1990,theUniversityofSouthCarolinaprovidesadaptedhousingforstudentswith
physicaldisabilities.StudentswithphysicaldisabilitieswhohavebeenfullyadmittedtotheUniversitymust
maketheirneedsforadaptedhousingknowntotheDepartmentofHousingandprovidedocumentationof
thedisabilityjustifyingtheneedforadaptedhousingtotheOfficeofDisabilityServices.Ifastudentwitha
physicaldisabilityrequiresminorchangesinaroomtoaccommodatespecialsneeds,theOfficeofDisability
ServiceswillrecommendtheneededadaptationstotheDepartmentofHousingandtheOfficeofStudent
JudicialPrograms.
8
Multicultural Student Affairs—TheOfficeofMulticulturalStudentAffairsprovidesprogramsandservices
inordertoproducepositiveeffectsonmulticulturalstudentretentionandsuccess.Theseculturalsupport
servicescontributetotheholisticstudentdevelopmentanddiversityeducationfortheUniversityofSouth
Carolina.Throughculturalprogramminganddiversityeducationinitiatives,theofficepromotesaninclusive
environmentwhilefosteringanappreciationforeachstudent’sindividuality.Theofficestaffmembers
serveasadvisorstoseveralsupportgroups.Theseorganizationsarehousedinthedepartmentandinclude
theAssociationofAfricanAmericanStudents,NationalAssociationforAdvancementofColoredPeople,
StudentsAssociationforLatinAmerica,TheChosenGospelEnsemble,TheBrothersofNubianDescent,
SAVVY,MinorityAssistancePeerProgram,EMPOWER,VentureScholarsProgram,theAfricanAmerican
MaleInstitute,TRIO,ChicNaissance,andtheBisexual,Gay,Lesbian,andStraightAlliance.
Diversity Initiatives and Resources
Student Resources
The Carolinian Creed—TheCarolinianCreedwasauthorizedbytheDivisionofStudentAffairsand
approvedbytheFacultySenate,theStudentSenate,andtheBoardofTrustees.TheCarolinianCreedis
acodeofcivilitythatrequirescommitmenttopersonalandacademicexcellence.Studentschoosingto
attendtheUniversityareobligatedtoacodeofcivilizedbehaviorandmustsignthecreeduponadmission.
AsaCarolinian,membershipintheCarolinaCommunityisnotwithoutitsobligations.Itisassumedor
understoodthatjoiningisevidenceofasubscriptiontocertainidealsandanagreementtostriveforthe
levelofachievementandvirtuesuggestedbytheCarolinianCreed:
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Iwillpracticepersonalandacademicintegrity.
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Iwillrespectthedignityofallpersons.
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Iwillrespecttherightsandpropertyofothers.
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Iwilldiscouragebigotry,whilestrivingtolearnfromdifferencesinpeople,ideas,andopinions.
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Iwilldemonstrateconcernforothers,theirfeelings,andtheirneedforconditionswhichsupport
theirworkanddevelopment.
Speech and Hearing Center—TheSpeechandHearingCenterprovidesdiagnosticandtherapeutic
servicesforstudentswhosuspectahearing,speech,orlanguageproblems.
Religious Life—Manyandvariedopportunitiesforreligiousworship,study,andactivityareprovided.
Ordainedchaplains,otherUniversity-recognizedreligiouscounselors,andstudentleadersfromvarious
denominations,faiths,andorganizationsservethecampusandareavailabletostudentsaspastors,
mentors,andcounselors.ThemembersofCarolinaCampusMinistriesareprofessionalministersand
directorsofreligiousgroups,eitherhousedintheirowncentersorusingspaceoncampusfortheirevents;
othersarestudentsintheUniversitywhodirectandcoordinateactivitiesamongtheirpeers.Activitiesand
eventsareopentoallstudentswithoutregardtoreligiousbeliefs.
Committee on Academic Responsibility—Thiscommitteeconsidershearingappealsofcasesdecidedin
collegeacademicresponsibilitycommitteeswheneitherpartytothecaseformallyappealsonthegrounds
that(a)thedecisionwascontrarytotheevidence;(b)thesanctionimposedisunreasonable,unjust,or
inappropriate;or(c)thehearingprocedureswereviolated.Thecommitteeismadeupoffivefaculty,two
graduatestudents,andtwoundergraduatestudentsandaddressespurelyacademicgrievances.
Sexual Assault Policies and Services—Asamatterofpolicy,thefaculty,staff,andstudentsthatcomprise
theUniversitycommunitywillnottoleratesexualassault.TheOfficeforSexualHealthandViolence
Prevention,whichmaybeutilizedbyallmembersoftheUniversity,isopen24hoursaday,sevendaysa
week.ThisofficewillassistmembersoftheUniversitywithidentifyingresourcesforvictims/survivorsof
sexualassaultwithcrisisintervention,judicialprocesses,andprovideeducationalprograms.Thisofficealso
assistsincoordinatingallotherrelatedservicesforvictims.
Student Retention Committee—Thepurposeofthiscommitteeistomonitorstudentretentionand
developanunderstandingofwhyacertainnumberleavetheUniversityeachyearandtosupportprograms
tokeepstudentsinattendance.Thecommitteemembersarecomposedof10facultyandstaffmembers
andfourstudents,andthestudentbodypresidentandvicepresidentserveasex-officiomembers.
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Diversity Initiatives and Resources
Student Resources
Student Ombudsman—TheStudentombudsmanservesastheliaisonwithacademicandserviceunits
onstudentacademicissuesandgrievances;coordinatesdivisionalandinstitutionalresponsesonroutine,
nonacademicgrievances;andcounselsstudentsonpoliciesandproceduresforbothacademicand
nonacademicconcerns.Theysendoutnoticestofacultywhenastudentisabsentfromclassformedical
reasons,duetodeathinthefamily,familyemergencies,etc.
Sexual Harassment Policy—Academicandemploymentdiscriminationonthebasisofrace,color,
religion,nationalorigin,gender,age,anddisablingconditionsviolatesfederallaw,statelaw,andUniversity
policy.“Sexualharassment”isaparticularformofgenderdiscrimination,distinctiveinbothcharacteristic
andquality.ThepurposeofthispolicyistodefinesexualharassmentinboththeUniversityemployment
andacademiccontexts,toprovideproceduresfortheinvestigationofsexualharassmentclaims,andto
ensurethatviolationsarefullyremedied,whilealsoprotectingtheconstitutionalandacademicrightsof
everymemberofthiscommunity.
Illegal Harassment Policy—SeeEEOpolicythatprohibitsharassmentbaseduponrace,color,religion,
nationalorigin,sex,sexualorientation,disability,orveteranstatus.
Veterans Services—Institutionsofhigherlearninghavingstudentsenrolledwhoarepursuingan
educationalobjectiveandreceivingeducationalassistancefromtheVeteransAdministration(VA)under
theprovisionsofChapters30,31,32,35,or106,Title38,UnitedStatesCode,arerequiredbyFederal
VARegulationstosetstandardsofprogressandsubmitthemtotheLicenseDivisionoftheSouth
CarolinaCommissiononHigherEducationforapproval.Thestandardsofprogressare:
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gradingsystem
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probationaryperiod
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conditionfordismissalandreentry
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conductofstudentsandcircumstancesfordismissal
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recordskeptbytheschool
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attendancepolicy.
Academicstandardsofprogressandattendancearecoveredunderschoolstandardsofprogressasspecified
bytheSouthCarolinaStateApprovingAgency(SAA)andrequiredbytheU.S.DepartmentofVeterans
Affairs(DVA).TheUniversity’sOfficeofVeteransServicesensurescompliancewiththesepolicies.
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Diversity Initiatives and Resources
Student Resources
Student Grievance Committee (nonacademic)—Thepurposeofthiscommitteeistoreviewtheproblems
thatstudentshaveconcerningvariousissues.Thecommitteemembersconsistoffivefacultyandstaff
membersandtwostudentswhohandlenonacademicgrievances.
Women’s Student Services—MorethanhalfofthestudentsattheUniversityofSouthCarolinaare
women.Aspecialofficedesignedtoaddresstheneedsandconcernsoffemalestudentsbothonand
offcampusistheOfficeofWomen’sStudentServices.Thisofficeprovidesacentralpointoncampus
forinformation,referralservices,andeducationalprogramsrelatedtogenderissues.Programsinclude
Connections,awomen’smentoringprogram,andWomen’sHistoryMonth.TheWomen’sStudent
Associationisalsoadvisedthroughthisoffice.
International Programs for Students—InternationalProgramsforStudentsprovidesawiderangeof
servicesforinternationalstudents,includingpre-arrivalinformation,orientationprograms,immigration
advising,personalassistance,andstudentprogramsandactivities.Theofficeisstaffedbyprofessionalswith
specializedtrainingandexpertiseinworkingwithinternationalstudentsattheUniversity.
Study Abroad—InternationalProgramsforStudentsoffersagreatvarietyofstudyabroadandexchange
opportunitiesforstudentswhowishtostudyinanothercountry.Suchstudyprogramsareavailable
forbothundergraduateandgraduatestudents.Thelengthofthestudyabroadprogrammaybeforthe
academicyear,onesemester,orashort-termprogramduringthesummer.TheStudyAbroadOffice
providesguidancetostudentsconsideringstudyabroadandmaintainsaresourcelibrarywithinformation
aboutprogramofferingsandfinancialaidattheUniversity.
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Diversity Goals
T
heUniversityofSouthCarolina,consistentwithitsacademicmissionofeducatingthestate’sdiverse
citizensandstudentsthroughteaching,research,andservice,iscommittedtoachievingexcellence
throughdiversity.Asacommunitymadeupofdiversefaculty,staff,andstudentsengagedinresearch,
scholarship,teachingandlearning,weshallcontinuetobeaglobalenterprisethatcreatesandfostersan
environmentthatenhancesthehumanpotentialofallmembersofourcommunityasitrelatestothe
achievementofourmission.
TheUniversityofSouthCarolinahasmadegreatprogressintheareaofdiversityduringthepast30
years;however,werealizewehavemuchmoretoaccomplish,andwearededicatedtobuildinguponour
progressthroughtheestablishmentandrefinementofouron-goinggoals.
Goal 1
Wewillcontinuetobuildandmaintainacampusenvironmentthatisinclusive,safe,andrespectful
forallpersonsandonethatfullyembracestheCarolinianCreed.
Goal 2
Wewillcontinuetoenhanceandprovideequalaccessandequalopportunitytoallouracademic
programs,facilities,andservices,includingemployment,forallpersonswithoutregardtorace,color,
creed,religion,nationalorigin,sex,age,disabilitystatus,veteranstatus,orsexualorientation.
Goal 3
Wewillcontinuetoprovidediversityeducation,orientation,training,andlearningexperiences
thatenhanceourawarenessofmulticulturalissuesandimproveourinterpersonalskillsandprovide
cross-group-learningforourfaculty,staff,andstudents.
Goal 4
Wewillcontinuetoaggressivelyrecruit,employ,andretainadiversecommunityoffaculty,staff,and
studentsthatisconsistentwithouracademicmissionandcreateanenvironmentinwhichteaching,
research,andservicewillflourishfreefromracism,sexism,andotherformsofprejudice,intolerance,
orharassment.
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TheUniversityofSouthCarolinadoesnotdiscriminateineducationaloremploymentopportunitiesordecisionsforqualifiedpersonsonthebasisofrace,color,religion,sex,
nationalorigin,age,disability,sexualorientation,orveteranstatus.TheUniversityofSouthCarolinahasdesignatedastheADATitleII,Section504,andTitleIXcoordinator
theExecutiveAssistanttothePresidentforEqualOpportunityPrograms.TheOfficeoftheExecutiveAssistanttothePresidentforEqualOpportunityProgramsislocatedat
1600HamptonStreet,Suite805,Columbia,SC;telephone803-777-3854.10089UniversityPublications2/10
OfficeofEqualOpportunityPrograms
1600HamptonStreet,Suite805
Columbia,SC29208
803-777-3854
www.sc.edu/eop