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Article I
Purpose
- The University of Maryland, College Park affirms its commitments to a policy of eliminating discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, or on the basis of the exercise of rights secured by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The code is established to prevent or eradicate such discrimination in accordance with due process within the Campus community. In doing so, the Campus recognizes that it must strive actively and creatively to build a community in which opportunity is equalized.
- Accordingly, the College Park Senate of the University of Maryland establishes this Human Relations Code to:
- prohibit discrimination as defined in this document within the Campus community both by educational programs and, to the extent specified herein, by a formal grievance procedure;
- establish the responsibilities of the Senate Human Relations Committee;
- establish the responsibilities of the Office of Human Relations Programs in connection with this Code;
- establish mediation and grievance vehicles within the units and colleges of the Campus, in conformity with the Campus Affirmative Action Plan;
- establish the responsibilities of Equal Education and Employment Opportunity (EEEO) Officers.
- Every effort will be made to make students and potential students, employees and potential employees, faculty members and potential faculty members aware of the opportunities that the Campus provides for every individual to develop and utilize his or her talents and skills. It is the intent of the Campus to enhance among its students and employees respect by each person for that person’s own race, ethnic background, sex, or sexual orientation of other individuals.
- Development of a positive and productive atmosphere of human relations on the Campus shall be encouraged through effective dialogue and broadening of communication channels. The Senate Human Relations Committee and the Office of Human Relations Programs shall provide support and assistance, as authorized, to any individual or group deemed by them to have a positive probable impact in working toward increased understanding among all individuals and groups on the Campus.
- The Senate Human Relations Committee shall advise the Office of Human Relations Programs in recommending policies which fulfill the provisions of this Code. In particular:
- The Senate Human Relations Committee shall be a general standing committee of the College Park Senate.
- The purpose of the Senate Human Relations Committee shall be to foster better human relations among all individuals and groups on the Campus, to advise in the development of positive and creative human relations programs, to advise in the prevention and eradication of all forms of discrimination prohibited by this Code, and to make regular assessments of the state of human relations within the purview of this Campus.
- The functions of the Senate Human Relations Committee may include but are not limited to: requesting the Office of Human Relations Programs to conduct investigations of complaints of discrimination because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, or on the basis of the exercise of rights secured by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution; providing an “open forum” for effective dialogue among all segments of the Campus community; recommending to appropriate Campus bodies educational programs and activities to promote equal rights and understanding; periodically reviewing such programs and activities; initiating studies of Campus-sponsored or recognized programs and activities to determine how improvements can be made in respect to human relations; continually reviewing progress toward these ends and making such further recommendations as experience may show to be needed; and participating to the extent set forth herein in formal human relations grievance actions.
- There shall be an Office of Human Relations Programs directly responsible to the President. This Office shall plan, develop, give direction to and coordinate the overall Campus effort to prevent and eliminate discrimination based on race, color creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, or on the basis of the exercise of rights secured by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, in all areas of Campus life (this overall effort is referred to herein as the Human Relations Program). The Office shall represent, and have direct access to, the President, and shall cooperate with the Senate Human Relations Committee on substantive matters concerning human relations. The Office shall assist and coordinate the human relations activities of the Equal Education and Employment Opportunity (EEEO) Officers and the Equity Administrators representing the various units of the Campus.
The duties and responsibilities of the Office of Human Relations Programs shall include but not be limited to the following: working with the Vice Presidents, Deans, Directors and Department Chairs to ensure full compliance, in spirit as well as in letter, with laws relating to discrimination and with the Campus Human Relations Code; advising Campus officers in their effort to assist personnel to recognize and take advantage of career opportunities within the Campus; working with appropriate offices in the surrounding community on such issues as off-campus housing practices affecting Campus students and employees, transportation, etc.; recommending to the Off-Campus Housing Office removal from or reinstatement upon lists of off-campus housing, so as to ensure that listed housing is available on a nondiscriminatory basis. (N.B. any final action taken by the University shall be preceded by proper notice to the property owner involved, and an opportunity to be heard); conducting reviews of compliance with the Campus Affirmative Action Plan; initiating and carrying out programs for the elimination and prevention of racism and sexism on Campus; distributing this Code and informing the Campus community of the interpretations of its provisions; sending periodic reports to the President and to the Senate Human Relations Committee concerning the Human Relations Programs; and participating to the extent set forth herein in formal human relations grievance actions.
- For each of the units and college of the Campus, the Office of Administrative Affairs, the Office of University Advancement, and the Office of Student Affairs, there shall be an Equity Administrator, who is designated in accordance with the Affirmative Action Plan and who has the duties specified by the Campus Affirmative Action Plan and like duties with respect to the forms of discrimination prohibited by this Code.
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