Under the UMCP Human Relations Code, faculty, associate staff, classified staff, and students may not be discriminated against 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 exercise of rights secured by the first Amendment of the United States Constitution. Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against may seek advice from or file a compliant with the Office of Human Relations Programs' Campus Compliance Officer.

Several options for filing a complaint are available: they include a formal, an informal, and an information purposes only complaint.

• A formal complaint has appeal rights. Due process requirements mandate that formal notice of a discrimination charge be given to the parties alleged to have committed discrimination. Thus, confidentiality is not available to the party filing the complaint.
  
• The informal complaint process has no appeal rights. This process is usually very effective, however, and a certain level of confidentiality can usually be assured.
  
• The informational inquiry complaint process is used for those individuals who wish to discuss an incident or practice but do not wish to pursue a resolution. This process is helpful in that it provides notification of improper practice or activities.
  

Individuals may file a complaint under the Human Relations Code within 90 days of the alleged discriminatory act. If they choose this option, they waive the right to proceed with an alternative campus administrative procedure. In addition to filing a complaint under the Human Relations Code with the Campus Compliance Officer, or if not satisfied with the outcome of the University's complaint process, an individual may also file a discrimination complaint within 180 days of the alleged incident with either one of the following agencies:

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Baltimore Field Office
10 South Howard Street, 3rd floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
1-800-669-4000

The Maryland Commission on Human Relations
6 St. Paul Place, 9th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 767-8600

U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530

Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210-1100
1-800-421-3481

You may read the entire Human Relations Code on our website.

Discrimination complaints may be filed with:
Campus Compliance Officer
Office of Human Relations Programs
Room 0102A
1130 Shriver Lab, East Wing,
301-405-2839.