Reports and Data

August 7, 2002

(This report is available in alternate format upon request.)

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OFFICE
FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT 2000-2001

Pat Gormley, Special Assistant to the President for Affirmative Action

Staff

Personnel in the Affirmative Action Office (AAO) for this reporting period included three permanently assigned personnel, a volunteer executive and a work-study student.

Pat GormleySpecial Assistant to the President for Affirmative Action
Responsible for discrimination and harassment issues including compliance and education.

Donna Marie Sorrentino
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance Officer; responsible for disability issues for faculty and staff and appeal issues for students, and acts as liaison with organizations outside the University.

Pat Starratt Senior
Administrative Assistant

Robert James

Corporate Gifts Officer

Earlene Mends
Work-Study Student

Milestones and Accomplishments

The Affirmative Action Office frequently accomplishes its work, especially in education and outreach, in collaboration with other offices and departments on campus. Such collaboration and sponsorship helps to present the message to a wider audience. Our accomplishments include:

Programs, Events and Scholarship

During 2000-2001, we again collaborated on the presentation of diversity-enhancing events, and participated in the following UNH community events and programs (co-sponsor noted in parenthesis):

Martin Luther King Day Event (Office of Multicultural Student Affairs [OMSA])
Workshops: Power Perceptions, What White People Can Do About Racism (Student Affairs)
Black Student Union Fashion Show
Student disAbility Panel Discussion (disAbilities Awareness Committee)
Photo Exhibit: "Building One World View" (Women’s Studies Program)
Alternative Break Challenge
Diversity Speaker (MOSAICO)
Student Focus Groups (Health Services)
Commencement Reception for Graduating Students of Color and Their Families (Coordinator for Minority Student Retention and OMSA)
Kidder Breakfast (GLBT Task Force)
Alumni of Color Reunion (OMSA)
Violence Against Women Retreat

Teaching, training and Outreach

The Affirmative Action Office conducted professional development courses and training in discriminatory harassment, diversity issues, and disability issues on an ad hoc or recurring basis for:

Health Services Medical Staff training
CONNECT
Freshman Orientation Staff training
Graduate Assistant/Research Assistant Orientation
New Faculty Orientation
Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention Program (SHARPP) Advocate training
Cooperative Extension staff training in Civil Rights
New Deans’ Orientation
CIS Staff training
UNH-M Faculty and Staff training
Student Affairs Expanded Group training
Facilities Team Forum training
Part-time Faculty Orientation
UNH Foundation
UNH-M Campus
1st Year Parents Orientation—Letting Go Workshops

The Special Assistant and the ADA Compliance Officer were also guest lecturers in classes and at off-campus institutions, including:

NH Community Technical College
WSBE Management Classes
Women's Studies Program
Oyster River High School
Psychology Classes
Recreation Management and Policy Classes
Wheaton College

Commissions, Committees, Task Forces and Connections

Affirmative Action Office staff were officers and members of, or advisors/consultants to, the following UNH organizations:

Athletic Advisory Committee (AAC)*
Equity Subcommittee, AAC**
Committee on Violence Against Women*/**
disAbility Awareness Committee*
Diversity Team*
President’s Commission on the Status of People of Color*
President’s Commission on the Status of Women*/**
President’s Task Force on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and transgendered Issues*
Student Affairs Expanded Group**
Licensing Task Force**
Prejudice Response Team*
Camp Wildcat***
Access Office Student Intern***
transportation Committee***
Northeast Passages Intern***
ADA Advisory Committee and Working Groups*/***
Space Allocation Renovation and Resources Committee (SARRC)***
Accreditation Process for Health Services***

* member
** chair
*** advisor/consultant

Data

TABLE ONE is a summary of incidents and complaints brought to, or considered by, the Affirmative Action Office under the University’s Discriminatory Harassment Policy for Academic Year 2001.

Since last year’s report, there were 21 complaints or issues brought by complainants or third-party advocates for discriminatory harassment issues, which include sexual harassment, sexual orientation, disability, and ethnicity/race issues. This is a slight decrease from last year’s figures. Whether a complaint is founded or unfounded, or whether a particular complaint is resolved, is not necessarily reflected in the total number of complaints. Many complaints are not followed through (even those appearing founded) because a complainant is not willing to pursue it or there is little possibility of identifying a perpetrator. Some are handled by individuals without further involvement by the Affirmative Action Office.

This table includes complaints made to OMSA and the Prejudice Response Team, and in some cases were provided solely to place the information on the record. Some involved anonymous perpetrators, who are presumed to be students because of the circumstances. In one case, a student organization was involved and was listed as "student."

TABLE TWO deals with incidents and complaints brought to the ADA Compliance Officer solely under disability compliance statutes. Most dealt with the obligation to accommodate and access University sponsored programs, services and activities as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Complainants or third-party advocates (39 in number) brought a total of 45 complaints or incidents to the ADA Compliance Officer. (In some cases, more than one category was noted, so there are more complaints than complainants.) Of the 45 complaints or incidents reported, 20 were reported to be unfounded and the remaining 25 founded.

Of the reported 45 complaints or incidents, fourteen were resolved, whether founded or unfounded, by some UNH formal action process (including Workers’ Compensation and Long Term Disability processes under the auspices of Facilities and Human Resources Offices).

Of the 25 founded complaints and incidents, five founded complaints and incidents reported by faculty, and one of four founded complaints and incidents reported by students were handled informally. Whereas, seven of the sixteen founded complaints and incidents reported by staff were handled formally. The resolution of complaints and incidents is made in collaboration with Human Resource Partners, complainants’ supervisor, department heads and complainant.

Of the sixteen founded complaints and incidents reported by staff, fifteen were determined to be founded on the grounds of access to programs, services and activities (including physical access, parking and transportation, accommodation, modification to policy and procedures) and one on the grounds of notice of rights and responsibilities. Of the four founded complaints and incidents reported by students, all four were also determined to be founded on the grounds of access to programs, services and activities. Faculty founded complaints and incidents (5 in number) were determined to be founded on the grounds of access to programs, services and activities. None of the incidents were founded on the basis of harassment or discrimination.

The leading number of "types of disability" cases (12 in number out of 39) was physical (e.g., spinal cord injury, quadriplegia, Multiple Sclerosis, severe soft tissue injury). This was the case of last year’s leading number. trailing not far behind was mental illness (8 out of 39 complainants). In the category of "hidden" disabilities, no cases were identified as Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or Learning Disability.

The Affirmative Action office continues its work improving the complaint process and reporting system and welcomes your input. Policy and educational materials pertaining to discrimination and harassment (including information on disability issues) are available through this office. Call 862-2930 (Voice/TTY) or email us at affirm.action@unh.edu. This report is available in alternate format upon request.

AY01 Affirmative Action Incident/Complaint Report [table ONE]

GRAND TOTAL		FACULTY/ INStr TOTAL	STAFF/ ADM TOTAL	STUDENT TOTAL*	GRAND TOTAL
No. of Individuals		1	6	14	21
Status of Accused(s)		1 Faculty	5 Staff 1 Student	6 Students 4 Staff 2 Faculty 1 UNH** 1 Other
Type Claimed	Sexual Harassment**	1	3	5	9
	Sexual Orientation	0	0	1	1
	Religion	0	0	1	1
	Disability	0	0	2	2
	Age	0	0		0
	Ethnicity/Race	0	2	2	4
	Other/Not Protected	0	1	4	5
Total Reported		1	6	15	22
Type Founded	Sexual Harassment	0	2	4	6
	Sexual Orientation	0	0	1	1
	Religion	0	0	1	1
	Disability	0	0	0	0
	Age	0	0	0	0
	Ethnicity/Race	0	1	1	2
	Other/Not Protected	0	0	2	2
Total Founded		0	3	9	12
Total Unfounded		0	3	3	6
Type of Notification to AAO	Informal by Individual	1	3	7	11
	Informal by Third Party	0	3	7	10
	Formal	0	0	0	0
Type of Process Implemented	Informal/Self-Solution	0	0	0	0
	Informal/Assisted	0	5	9	14
	Referral/Assisted by Other Office	0	0	2	2
	Formal Action	0	1	2	3
	Other***	1	0	1	2
Action Taken	Letter/Specific Action	0	2	3	5
	Oral/Informal Action	0	0	0	0
	Termination	0	0	0	0
	Other****	0	1	7	8
	None/Unknown	1	3	4	8

* Includes incidents referred /handled by Student Affairs
** Includes case where accused is unknown, but presumed to be student due to circumstances, and includes one student organization
*** Some cases not pursued
**** Includes cases filed with NH Commission on Human Rights and OCR

AY01 ADA Incident/Complaint Report [table TWO]

		Status	FACULTY TOTAL	STUDENT TOTAL	STAFF TOTAL	OTHER TOTAL	GRAND TOTAL
	Access to	No. of Individuals	5	13	21	0	39
	Programs,	Physical access	3	1	2	0	6
Type	Services,	Accommodation	2	4	17	0	23
Claimed	Activities	Modification to Policy/Procedures	0	5	4	0	9
		Incident Subtotal	5	10	23	0	38
		Harassment	0	1	2	0	3
	treatment	Discrimination	0	3	0	0	3
		Incident Subtotal	0	4	2	0	6
	Notice of Rights and Responsibilities		0	0	1	0	1
		Total Reported	5	14	26	0	45
		Type Founded	5	4	16	0	25
		Type Unfounded	0	10	10	0	20
		Informal by Individual	4	6	9	0	19
Type of Notification to ADA		Informal by Third Party	1	11	24	0	36
Compliance Officer, UNH		Formal by Individual	0	0	0	0	0
		Other	0	0	0	0	0
Type of Process Implemented		Informal/Self-Solution	0	1	2	0	3
		Informal/Assisted	5	14	24	0	43
		Referral/Assisted by Other Office	5	13	24	0	42
		Formal Action	0	3	11	0	14
		Other/External	0	0	0	0	0
Action Taken		Letter/Specific Action	3	8	16	0	27
		Oral/Informal Action	3	11	18	0	32
		Termination/Suspension Claimant	0	0	1	0	1
		Termination/Suspension Accused	0	0	0	0	0
		Ltd (Long Term Disability)	0	0	3	0	3
		WC (Workers’ Compensation)	0	0	6	0	6
		Other/Unknown	0	2	6	0	8
		None	0	0	0	0	0
	AD/HD: attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder LD: learning disability HI: head injury HE: hearing VI: visual MI: mental illness PHY: physical INT: physiological TMP: temporary MX: multiple ND: none OTH: other		0	0	0	0	0
			0	0	0	0	0
			0	1	0	0	1
			0	1	2	0	3
Type of			1	1	0	0	2
Disability			1	3	4	0	8
			2	3	7	0	12
(Refers			1	0	1	0	2
Back to			0	1	0	0	1
Individual)			0	1	4	0	5
			0	1	1	0	2
			0	2	1	0	3