April 2008
DIVERSITY and
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFFICE
New Employee Orientation
Visit our website: www.umassmed.edu/deoo
DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFFICE
Responsibilities
 Provides oversight for issues related to
uncivil behavior, discrimination, sexual
harassment, hostile environment, violence
free workplace, disability and appropriate
treatment of students for all UMMS
students and employees
 Manages and monitors UMMS compliance
with affirmative action and equal
opportunity
Diversity and Equal Opportunity Office
Responsibilities Continued…
 Conducts ongoing education:
• Sexual Harassment
• Workplace Harassment
• ADAA 2008
Diversity and Equal Opportunity Office
Responsibilities
Continued…
 Coordinate programs, special events and
celebrations for inclusion, i.e., international
festival, women’s history, heritage months,
Martin Luther King Jr., and more…
DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFFICE
RESPONSIBILITIES CONTINUED…
 Council On Equal Opportunity and Diversity Committees:
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Allies
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Mature Workforce (employee’s over 40)
DisAbilities Committee
Minority Academic Advancement Committee
International Committee
Civility Committee
Professional Women’s Committee
Nominating Committee
 Women’s Faculty Committee
• Gender Equity
• Women’s Health
• E-Scholarship
POLICIES, PROCEDURES,
GUIDELINES, STATEMENTS AND AFFINITY
 Statement of Non-Discrimination
 Discrimination Complaint Policy and Procedures
(includes Hostile Work Environment)
 Sexual Harassment Complaint Policy and
Procedures
 American with Disabilities Amendment Act 2008
Policies, Procedures,
Guidelines, Statements and Affinity
Continued…
 Appropriate Treatment of Students
 Consensual Amorous Relationships Guideline
 Holiday Guideline
 Civility Statement
STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
The University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS)
does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion,
gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related
medical conditions) sexual orientation, age, national
origin, ancestry, covered veteran’s status or any
characteristic protected by law; further, UMMS is firmly
committed to ensuring that all who work, study or seek
treatment here may do so in an environment free of
harassment and/or discrimination
BEHAVIORS THAT MAY CONSTITUTE
DISCRIMINATION AND/OR
WORKPLACE HARASSMENT
 Participates in or condones discrimination
or harassment on the basis of protected class status
 Sends offensive or discriminatory messages or
materials through the use of electronic
communications (i.e., electronic mail, including the
internet, voicemail, pagers and facsimile) which are
degrading to the protected class or a person because
of his/her protected class status
PROTECTED CLASS CATEGORIES
 Race
 Color
 National Origin
 Religion
 Gender
 Sexual Orientation (State)
 Age
 Disability
 Veteran Status
(This applies to all employees, students and applicants)
SEXUAL HARASSMENT (EEOC)
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors,
and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature
constitutes sexual harassment when:
 Quid Pro Quo
Either submission to, or rejection of, unwelcome
sexual advances impacts the terms or conditions of
employment
 Hostile Work Environment
Such conduct has the purpose or effect of
unreasonable interfering with an individual's work
performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or
offensive working environment
BEHAVIORS THAT MAY CONSTITUTE
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
 Unwelcome sexual advances
 Sexual jokes; written or oral references to sexual conduct,
gossip regarding one’s sex life, comments on an
individual’s body parts
 Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons
 Inquiries or discussions into ones sexual experiences
 Inappropriate use of electronic communications: internet,
email, pagers, phone, and voicemail
THE AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES AMENDMENT ACT 2008 (ADAA)
Prohibits employment discrimination against
qualified individuals with disabilities
Reasonable Accommodation
A modification to the work environment or in the
way things are customarily done that enables an
individual with a disability to do their job
ACCOMMODATION REQUEST PROCESS
 Documentation must be provided by a clinician
qualified to diagnose in the appropriate area of
specialization
 Documentation is based on a current evaluation
(usually within three months)
 Accommodation Request Form must be returned to
the DEOO
 Accommodation Request Form and medical
documentation guidelines available on intranet web
site:
http://www.umassmed.edu/deoo
UMMS CIVILITY STATEMENT
The University of Massachusetts, Worcester is a
large diverse community committed to a civil,
respectful and humane workplace. Our
commitment to civility contributes to the
recruitment and retention of top talent. As a
result, we uphold the dignity of the individual in
the following ways:
UMMS CIVILITY STATEMENT
CONTINUED…
 Conducting oneself with integrity, courtesy and
respect toward fellow members of our
UMass Worcester community
 Holding individuals accountable for their
actions
 Promoting an environment where individuals
feel safe and supported
UMMS COMPLAINT PROCEDURE
An employee who believes he/she has been
subjected to uncivil behavior, harassment,
discrimination, or hostile work environment
should notify:
 Manager or Supervisor
 Diversity and Equal Opportunity Office
UMMS COMPLAINT PROCEDURE
CONTINUED…
 Informal Complaint:
Complainant filed with the DEOO (does not need to
be in writing)
 Formal Complaint:
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Complaint must be in writing
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A formal investigation is conducted
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Written report with findings and
recommendations are issued
RETALIATION
Conduct which is taken against a complainant
because they have filed a complaint or conduct
taken against an individual who has cooperated
with the investigation of a complaint
DIVERSITY AND
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFFICE (DEOO)
 Deborah L. Plummer, PhD, Vice Chancellor
 Marlene S. Tucker, Director
 Bonnie J. Bray, Executive Assistant
 Fernanda Gama, Project Coordinator
 Jesse Edwards, Community Outreach & Diversity Manager
 Located on the first floor of the University Campus - # H1-728
 Phone number (508) 856-2179; Fax (508) 856-1810
 Web site: http://www.umassmed.edu/deoo