DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION 101 PROFESSOR PORTER HEHIMHIS HTTPS

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION 101 PROFESSOR PORTER (HE/HIM/HIS) HTTPS: //WWW. LAW. UA. EDU/DIVERSITY/

AGENDA • UA’s Strategic Plan • UA Law’s ODI and UA’s DEI • Legal Protections • Harassment and Retaliation • Other Resources • FAQ • Questions

STRATEGIC PLAN Goal # 3: “Enrich our learning and work environment by providing an accepting, inclusive community that attracts and supports a diverse faculty, staff and student body. ” https: //www. ua. edu/strategicplan/

UA’S DIVISION OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION • Provides leadership for the University to build on topics of inclusiveness in learning environments • Regularly hosts programs related to D&I • Develops strategic partnerships at the University and within the community • https: //diversity. ua. edu/

UA LAW’S OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION (ODI) The mission of the Office of Diversity & Inclusion: • Educate the UA Law community on D&I topics • Coordinate support for diverse constituencies • Facilitate compliance with nondiscrimination laws/policies • Serve as an institutional liaison for addressing issues as they arise • https: //www. law. ua. edu/diversity/

LEGAL PROTECTIONS

DISCRIMINATION • In the context of civil rights law, unlawful discrimination refers to unfair or unequal treatment of an individual (or group) based on certain characteristics (protected classes) • Federal and state laws prohibit discrimination against members of protected classes in a number of settings, including education and employment

PROTECTED CLASSES WHAT IS A PROTECTED CLASS? • A group of people with a common characteristic who are legally protected from discrimination on the basis of that characteristic. EXAMPLES • Religion • Veteran Status • Age • Race/National Origin • Disability Status • Gender

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY “UA provides equal opportunity in education and employment for all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, genetic or family medical history information, disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected basis…” https: //www. ua. edu/about/policies/files/EEO%20 Policy. pdf

RELIGION • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin • Requires reasonable accommodation of religious observances • Religious discrimination can also involve treating someone differently because that person is married to (or associated with) an individual of a particular religion

AGE VETERANS • Age Discrimination Act of 1975 prohibits discrimination based on age in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance • *The Act does not limit protection against discrimination to a certain age group. * • Section 402 Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance of 1974 prohibits discrimination based on status as a special disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era

RACE/NATIONAL ORIGIN • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - prohibits discrimination based on race or national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance • Includes discrimination based on the country, world region, or place where a person or their ancestors come from; a person’s limited English proficiency or English learner status; or a person’s actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, including membership in a religion that may be perceived to exhibit such characteristics (such as Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh individuals).

DISABILITY • Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 - prohibits discrimination based on disability in public accommodations, public services, transportation, and telecommunications and requires provision of reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities • Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - prohibits discrimination based on disability in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance from the U. S. Department of Education

OFFICE OF DISABILITY SERVICES • The Office of Disability Services (ODS) is the central campus resource for students who wish to request academic accommodations. • In collaboration with students and instructors, ODS staff coordinates accommodations and support to ensure equal access to an education. • http: //ods. ua. edu/

TITLE IX • Title IX of Education Amendments of 1972 - prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance • You can access UA’s Title IX policy here: https: //titleix. ua. edu/wpcontent/uploads/2019/10/Sexual-Misconduct-Policy. pdf Includes: • Complaint processing procedures • Investigation process • Appeal rights

TITLE IX

TITLE IX OFFICE • Accommodations may be provided to all individuals involved in a Title IX Investigation, including medical services, counseling services, academic support, housing support, protective orders, safety planning, employment assistance, and filing of Student Conduct complaints. Additionally, the Title IX Office will assist complainants in notifying UAPD or local law enforcement if requested. • https: //titleix. ua. edu/

TITLE IX RESOURCES • The UAct program provides a central location for information about reporting sexual misconduct and other issues. https: //www. ua. edu/campuslife/uact/ • Women and Gender Resource Center: A victim advocate is on call 24 hours a day, (205 -348 -5040) including weekends and holidays, for crisis intervention and support. To access the on-call victim advocate after hours or on the weekend call UAPD at 205 -348 -5454 and request the WGRC on-call advocate.

HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION

WHAT IS HARASSMENT? • Abusive or hostile conduct which is directed toward or inflicted upon another person because of their race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status and which, because of its severity or pervasiveness… • Unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work or academic performance; or • Creates a hostile or abusive environment for that individual’s participation in a University activity.

HARASSMENT EXAMPLES • Actions or statements that threaten harm or intimidation to others. • An act that invades the privacy of another person. • Bullying behaviors, defined as a repeated infliction of physical or psychological distress by way of teasing, social exclusion, threats, intimidation, stalking, violence, theft, harassing communication or destruction of property. • Any action or statement via social media, computer or other data network that may be perceived as harmful, threatening, or intimidating.

RETALIATION Consistent with applicable laws and UA policies, students will not be subjected to harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion, discrimination, reprisals and/or adverse actions because they have engaged in, or may engage in a protected activity, such as… 1. Filing a complaint; 2. Assisting or participating in an investigation, compliance review, hearing or other activity related to the administration of an equal opportunity or affirmative action law or applicable UA policy; 3. Opposing any act or practice prohibited by an equal opportunity or affirmative action law or applicable UA policy; or 4. Exercising any other right protected by an equal opportunity or affirmative action law or applicable UA policy.

HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT • Title IX Complaints may be directed to UA’s Title IX Coordinator, Ms. Beth Howard, 107 Burke Hall West, Box 870300, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 -0300, (205) 348 -5496, gbhoward@ua. edu. All other inquiries and concerns related to discrimination, harassment, or retaliation: • Dr. Gwendolyn Hood, University Compliance Officer and Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, 107 Burke Hall West, Box 870300, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 -0300, (205) 348 - 5855 (Voice), (205) 348 -5573 (TDD), ghood@aalan. ua. edu.

• Hate and bias hotline: • 205 -348 -BIAS (2427) • Hate and bias reporting form (University of Alabama System): • http: //uasystem. edu/hotline/ • Office of Equal Opportunity Programs : • https: //eop. ua. edu/index. html

OTHER RESOURCES

UA SAFE ZONE RESOURCE CENTER • Provides educational outreach, community support, and crisis intervention resources for LGBTQIA+ members of the University of Alabama community and their allies. • Offers help connecting people at UA to LGBTQIA+ inclusive resources, provides training on LGBTQIA+ topics for UA students, faculty, and staff, facilitates LGBTQIA+ community building programs on campus, and works with the Safe Zone advisory board to advocate LGBTQIA+ interests at UA. • https: //safezone. sa. ua. edu/

WOMEN AND GENDER RESOURCE CENTER • Provides free, confidential, and voluntary counseling and advocacy services to members of The University of Alabama community who are victims/survivors of interpersonal violence. Services are also provided to family and friends who have been victimized on The University of Alabama campus. • Offers a variety of programming designed to promote social justice and address gender disparities in academia, government, and the workforce. • https: //wgrc. sa. ua. edu/

OFFICE FOR MILITARY AND VETERAN AFFAIRS • The mission of The Office for Veteran and Military Affairs is to provide, facilitate, or coordinate programs and services to meet the special needs of veterans, service members, dependents, and survivors in order to ease their transition to college life and fulfill their educational goals. • https: //vets. sa. ua. edu/

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS • Enforces five federal nondiscrimination statutes in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance, including Title VI of the Civil Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. • File a complaint here: https: //www 2. ed. gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintintro. html

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF LAW SCHOOLS • https: //www. americanbar. org/groups/di versity/resources/toolkits/ • Law Deans Antiracist Clearinghouse Project • Harvard “Implicit Bias Test” • Implicit Bias Videos and Toolkits • Ally Toolkits • The Women of Color Research Initiative Program • Compilation of books, articles, studies, websites, music, and art focused on antiracism

MORE INFO • https: //www. ua. edu/campuslife/uact/report/ • Students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors who feel they have been the targets of, or who have been witness to, a hate or bias incident are strongly encouraged to contact the University’s Hate & Bias Hotline at 205 -348 -BIAS (2427) to make the University aware of such incidents.

FAQ • Can I report harassment/discrimination if I’m not the victim? YES • Am I protected from retaliation for filing a report? YES • Can I file a report with UA anonymously? YES • Can I file a report with US Dept of Ed anonymously? NO

QUESTIONS?

THANKS! https: //www. law. ua. edu/diversity/ jporter@law. ua. edu