Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Office

Director: David L. Ottley
Location: Old Main, Room 161
Phone: (435) 797-1266
FAX: (435) 797-0291
E-mail: carolyn.whelan@usu.edu
WWW: http://www.usu.edu/aaeo

The vision statement of the Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity (AA/EO) Office reads as follows:

“USU sees an environment in which every individual has an opportunity to learn, work, and contribute, and where full inclusion and respect for all people encourages creativity and productivity. The result will be students, faculty, and staff working together, serving and strengthening our local, national, and global communities.”

In support of this vision, Utah State University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race; color; religion; sex/gender (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related conditions); national origin; age; genetic information; sexual orientation or gender identity/expression; disability; status as a protected veteran; or any other status protected by University policy or local, state, or federal law. 

The AA/EO Office implements federal, state, and University anti-discrimination laws, statutes, and policies, and strives to provide an atmosphere in which students, staff, faculty, and participants in USU-sponsored activities and programs can work, study, and live without fear of illegal discrimination or harassment. It also assists in the efforts to increase access to education and employment for groups that have traditionally faced barriers to opportunities in these areas.

The AA/EO Office focuses on a variety of areas, which include (but are not limited to):

1. 1. Acting as the Title IX Coordinator www.usu.edu/aaeo for the University. This is the responsibility of the AA/EO Director.
2. 2. Receiving, investigating, evaluating, processing, and assisting in the resolution of illegal discrimination and harassment (including sexual harassment) issues and complaints.
3. 3. Providing training on affirmative action, illegal discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), and other AA/EO-related topics to a variety of audiences, including students, staff, faculty, and community.
4. 4. Developing affirmative action policies, plans, and programs at USU aimed at increasing employment opportunities for underrepresented groups of women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans.
5. 5. Monitoring the representation and status of women and minorities who are prospective or current faculty or staff.

Utah State University is dedicated to providing equal opportunity in education and employment to all students, faculty, staff, applicants, and participants in University programs. Members of the University community, who feel their rights have been violated, want information, or just need some guidance relating to their course of action relating to AA/EO issues, should contact the Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Office, located in Old Main, Room 161 or call (435) 797-1266. Copies of the complete Affirmative Action Program are available for review in the AA/EO Office and at the Merrill-Cazier Library’s reserve desk. Copies of AA/EO-related policies, including the sexual harassment policy and discrimination complaint policy, are available in the office as well as on-line as part of the HR Policy Manual (which includes the Faculty code) www.usu.edu/hr/htm/policies; and Student Code www.usu.edu/studentservices/studentcode. Information pertaining to other AA/EO-related laws, policies, and issues at the local (USU), state, and federal levels are also available at the office. These items, along with other information, are also available on the AA/EO Office website at: http://www.usu.edu/aaeo