The University is committed
to the principles of equal educational and employment
opportunity for all qualified persons. The University
is further committed to nondiscriminatory human
relations in the classroom and workplace, without
regard to the person’s race, color, gender,
sexual orientation, age, religion, national
origin, marital status or handicap. All of these
classes and any other forms of discrimination
are totally antithetical to the policy of the
University. Moreover, proactive efforts will
be taken to develop programs which would extend
the general commitment of the University.
Duquesne University is, however, an educational
institution operated in affiliation with the
Roman Catholic Church in the United States.
Nothing in this Policy should be construed as
a waiver either of the Constitutional or statutory
rights which Duquesne University enjoys as a
religiously-affiliated organization. In particular
Duquesne University reserves the right to specify
as a qualification for employment the ability
and willingness to support the values of Catholicism
as set forth in the University’s Mission
Statement.
A. EQUAL EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITY
No person seeking to pursue study at the University
shall be excluded from participation in, denied
the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination
in their educational pursuits or in having access
to any program or activity of the University
if they have the required academic qualifications.
B. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY No qualified person seeking
employment with, or advancement within, the
University shall be excluded from the recruiting
process and every effort shall be made to hire
and promote women, minorities, and handicapped
persons in all position classifications. To
ensure compliance with this policy, the employing
department and all search committees shall be
required to document the recruiting and selection
process utilized in filling positions and to
forward this documentation to the Office of
Human Resource Management. The appropriate form
assigned for this documentation is attached.
C. SEXUAL HARASSMENT
(See TAP #31, University Policy on Sexual Harassment).
D. INTERNAL GRIEVANCE
PROCEDURE
Any student or employee who believes that he
or she has suffered discrimination, on the basis
of his/her race, color, gender, sexual orientation,
creed, religion, national origin, marital status
or handicap may file a complaint in writing
with the Affirmative Action Officer who will
invoke the internal grievance procedure with
due consideration of the rights of the person
being accused or against whom a complaint has
been filed. Whenever a record is maintained
of any complaint, regardless of its disposition,
the accused must be informed of the existence
and nature of that complaint. The initial response
involves hearing the facts and examining documentation
(if any) from the principals in an effort to
resolve the issue in an informal manner. In
the absence of such resolution, the Affirmative
Action Officer, upon request of either principal
to the dispute, will call a committee and conduct
committee proceedings, and submit the committee’s
findings and recommendations to the appropriate
divisional Vice President. This grievance procedure
is entirely internal in nature and no party
to the proceedings will be represented by counsel.
