It is the intellectual and moral responsibility, but more importantly, the POLICY of the leadership of Southern Connecticut State University, to advance social justice and equity by exercising affirmative action and upward mobility. Accordingly, Southern Connecticut State University, as a constituent unit of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, through this plan of affirmative action, will, with conviction and effort, undertake positively to overcome the present effect of past practices, policies, or barriers to equal employment opportunity, and to achieve the full and fair participation of all protected class members found to be underutilized in the workforce or adversely affected by past policies and practice.

In accordance with the Provisions of Sections 46a-60(b), 46a-80(b) or 86a-81 (b) of the Connecticut General Statues, equal employment opportunity, a distinctly different matter, is employment of individuals without consideration of actual or perceived age; ancestry; color; gender identity or expression; genetic information and/or family medical history; intellectual disability, learning disability; parental, family or marital status; past or present history of a mental disability; physical disability, pregnancy or related conditions; race or national origin, religion or creed; sex, sexual orientation; veteran or military status; arrest and/or criminal conviction status (in state employment), lawful source of income, citizenship or immigration status, status as a victim of domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual assault victims, workplace hazards to reproductive systems, or any protected characteristic, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any grievance process within the institution, with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and /or the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, or other factors that cannot lawfully be the basis for employment actions, unless there is a bona fide occupational qualification under applicable local, state or federal law.

This policy of nondiscrimination will not be limited to employment practices but will extend, as well, to services and programs provided by the University. Southern Connecticut State University will affirmatively provide services and programs in a fair and impartial manner. Clearly, affirmative action and equal employment opportunity are immediate and necessary agency objectives for Southern. Equal opportunity is the purpose and goal of affirmative action.

Southern Connecticut State University will make every good faith effort that may be necessary in all aspects of personnel administration to ensure that the recruitment and hiring of underrepresented individuals reflect their availability in the job market; that the causes of underutilization are identified and eliminated; that alternative approaches are explored when personnel practices have a negative impact on protected classes; and, that the terms and conditions, and privileges of employment, including upward and lateral mobility, are equitably administered. We also recognize the hiring difficulties experienced by individuals with disabilities and by many older people. SCSU will take necessary steps to identify and overcome areas of underutilization of such people in the workforce and to achieve their full participation in all university programs, processes, and services.

As President of Southern Connecticut State University, I pledge to take every good faith effort to realize our goals within the timetables set forth in this plan and as required by pertinent local, state and federal legislation, detailed in the pages of the Affirmative Action Plan.

All executive, administrative, and supervisory personnel are expected to satisfy their affirmative action responsibilities, consistent with this SCSU's objective of establishing and implementing affirmative action and equal employment opportunity. All employees have the right to review and comment on the Affirmative Action Plan. A copy will be kept in the Office of Diversity & Equity Programs, in the library and is accessible online at the Office of Diversity & Equity Programs' Website Diversity and Equity | Southern Connecticut State University.

The person responsible for overseeing affirmative action and equal employment opportunity is Paula Rice, Director of Diversity and Equity Programs/Title IX Coordinator, at Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent Street, Engleman B-110, New Haven, Connecticut 06515, telephone number (203) 392-5568.

Sandra Bulmer, Ph.D.
Interim President