Equal Opportunity in Educational Programs and Activities Policy

The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College is committed to a policy of equal educational opportunity. The University therefore prohibits discrimination on the basis of unlawful criteria such as race, color, religion, national origin, including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics[1], age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or gender identity or expression, as those terms are defined under applicable law, in admitting students to its programs and facilities and in administering its admissions policies, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic programs, and other institutionally administered programs or activities made available to students at the University. The University also prohibits harassment, as defined in the Vermont Statutes at Title 16, section 11(a)(26). Unlawful harassment is a form of discrimination and is therefore prohibited. Sources: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Vermont Public Accommodations Act; and such other federal, state, and local non-discrimination laws as may apply. The University will reasonably, timely, and effectively respond to all reports of discrimination and discriminatory harassment of which the University has notice, based on the protected categories referenced herein.

Note: This Statement of Policy is the official University of Vermont Equal Educational Opportunity Policy Statement and supersedes all prior statements regarding its subject matter. It may be modified only by written statement issued by the President as Chief Executive Officer of the University or by formal action by the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College Board of Trustees. This Policy Statement is designed to express the University's intent and commitment to comply with the requirements of federal, state, and local non-discrimination laws. It shall be applied co-extensively with those non-discrimination laws and shall not be interpreted as creating any rights, contractual or otherwise, that are greater than exist under those laws.

For more information on this policy, please refer to the Equal Opportunity in Educational Programs and Activities and Non-Harassment Policy web page.

The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and to a program of affirmative action in order to fulfill that policy. The President of the University fully supports the University’s equal employment opportunity policy and the University’s affirmative action program.

The University will accordingly recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all positions and ensure that all other personnel actions are administered without regard to unlawful criteria including race, color, religion, national origin, including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics,[1] place of birth, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, positive HIV-related blood test results, genetic information, gender identity or expression, or status as a disabled veteran, recently separated veteran, active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran, or Armed Forces service medal veteran (collectively “protected veterans”), or crime victim status, as these terms are defined under applicable law, or any other factor or characteristic protected by law, and ensure that all employment decisions are based only on valid job requirements.

In addition, the University of Vermont recognizes that discriminatory harassment and sexual harassment are forms of unlawful discrimination, and it is, therefore, the policy of the University that discriminatory harassment and sexual harassment will not be tolerated. The University also prohibits unlawful harassment on the basis of other characteristics protected by law. The University will reasonably, timely, and effectively respond to all reports of discrimination and discriminatory harassment of which the University has notice, based on the protected categories referenced herein.

Further, employees and applicants will not be subjected to harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion, or retaliation because they have engaged in or may engage in the following: filing a complaint or assisting or participating in an investigation regarding alleged discrimination or harassment as prohibited in the policy statement above; filing a complaint or assisting or participating in an investigation, compliance evaluation, hearing, or any other activity related to the administration of the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 ("VEVRAA"), Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ("Rehabilitation Act"), or the Affirmative Action provisions of any other federal, state or local law; opposing any act or practice made unlawful by VEVRAA or any other federal, state, or local law requiring equal employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities or protected veterans; or exercising any other rights protected by VEVRAA or the Rehabilitation Act.  Additionally, the University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

The University of Vermont maintains an audit and reporting system that: measures the effectiveness of the University’s affirmative action program; indicates any need for remedial action; determines the degree to which the University’s objectives have been attained;  measures the University’s compliance with its affirmative action obligations; and determines whether individuals with disabilities and veterans have had the opportunity to participate in all University sponsored educational, training, recreational and social activities.

Sources: Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Equal Pay Act of 1963; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; Section 402 of the Vietnam-Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974; Executive Order 11246; the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008; U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulation 6 C.F.R Part 19; and the Vermont Fair Employment Practices Act, all as amended; and such other federal, state and local non-discrimination laws as may apply.

Note: This Statement of Policy is the official University of Vermont Equal Educational Opportunity Policy Statement and supersedes all prior policy statements regarding its subject matter. It may be modified only by written statement issued by the President as Chief Executive Officer of the University or by formal action by the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College Board of Trustees. This Policy Statement is designed to express the University’s intent and commitment to comply with the requirements of federal, state, and local non-discrimination laws. It shall be applied co extensively with those non-discrimination laws and shall not be interpreted as creating any rights, contractual or otherwise, that are greater than exist under those laws.

For more information on this policy, please refer to the Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Policy Statement web page.