Reports and Data 
January 24, 2003
(This report is available in alternate format upon request)
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OFFICE FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2002
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 two work-study students.
Pat Gormley Special Assistant to the President for Affirmative Action
Responsible for discrimination, harassment, and diversity 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 (departing)
Karen Kruger Senior Administrative Assistant (arriving)
Robert James Corporate Gifts Officer
Gretchen Dovholuk Work-Study Student
Becky Searles 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.
In addition to the accomplishments listed below, the Affirmative Action Office was involved in several highly important endeavors during this academic year:
An Affirmative Action web site was developed and is available on-line at http://www.unh.edu/affirmativeaction. It provides information regarding our mission, the UNH Discriminatory Harassment Policy, reports and data related to affirmative action, as well as links to other campus offices. As this web site continues to develop, we will provide additional information on affirmative action, diversity, and the ADA.
The Special Assistant and the ADA Compliance Officer participated in USNH diversity dialogues for campus administrators that were conducted by the Chancellor.
Programs, Events and Scholarship
Again this year, we collaborated on the presentation of diversity-enhancing events, and participated in the following UNH community events and programs (lead sponsor noted in parenthesis):
- Leadership Forum Speaker: Billy Mills (Athletics Dept./HR)
- GLBT Alliance Dance (OMSA)
- Women’s History Photo Exhibit (Women’s Studies Program)
- Bicycle Safety Program (disAbility Awareness Committee)
- Martin Luther King Day Event (Office of Multicultural Student Affairs [OMSA])
- GLBT Student Leadership Retreat (OMSA)
- Workshops: Power Perceptions; What White People Can Do About Racism (Student Affairs)
- Diversity Speaker John Boncore, aka Dacajaweiah (President’s Commission on the Status of People of Color)
- Commencement Reception for Graduating Multicultural Students and Families (Coordinator for Minority Student Retention/OMSA)
- Black Student Union representation at Salem State College
- Little Theater for the Deaf (disAbility Awareness Committee)
- Speaker Tom Santoro on Dating Violence Prevention (SHARPP)
- Queer Student Orientation (OMSA)
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:
- Thompson School Faculty and Staff Retreat - training on Civil Rights
- 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
- Current trends of ADA Employment Issues – Human Resources training
- Dean’s Council – Presentation on the study, "Revisiting our understanding of unwanted sexual experiences on campus – A comparison of 1988 and 2000"
- Technical Services Staff training on ADA Compliance in the Workplace
The Special Assistant and the ADA Compliance Officer were also guest lecturers in classes and at off-campus institutions, including:
- Cultural Diversity Workshop (Shop & Save, Nashua NH)
- Waterville Valley (NH) Cultural Diversity Workshop and Martin Luther King Day Event
- Discriminatory Harassment training (NH Community Technical College, Laconia, NH)
- WSBE Management Classes – Affirmative Action issues
- Women’s Studies Program
- Sexual Harassment in the Workplace (Family Studies Interns, School of Health and Human Services)
- Recreation Management and Policy – The ADA and Current Issues
Commissions, Committees, Task Forces and Connections
Affirmative Action Office staff were officers, members of, or advisors/consultants to, the following UNH organizations:
- Athletic Advisory Committee (AAC)*
- Equity Subcommittee, AAC**
- Commencement Committee*/***
- 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 Commission on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and transgendered Issues*
- Licensing Task Force**
- Prejudice Response Team*
- Camp Wildcat***
- transportation Committee***
- ADA Advisory Committee and Working Groups*/***
- 9/11 Group*
- Screening Committee, Coordinator of Presidential Commissions**
- Bias Free Language Subcommittee of the President’s Commission on the Status of Women*/***
- Web Task Force***
- Academic Planning Committee***
- transitional Work Program Committee*/***
* 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 2002.
During Academic Year 2002, there were 32 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 34% increase from last year’s report. Most of this increase reflects complaints related to sexual orientation (up from one complaint in AY01 to six complaints during AY02) and ethnicity/race (up from 4 complaints in AY01 to 13 complaints in AY02).
There have been three complaints filed with the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights. Two are currently ongoing.
Whether a complaint is founded or unfounded, or whether a particular complaint is resolved, is not necessarily reflected in the total number of complaints. This is because 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, and some are handled by individuals without further involvement by the Affirmative Action Office.
table One also includes complaints made to the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMSA) and to the Prejudice Response Team, Student Affairs, which, in some cases, were recorded solely to place the information on the record. Some involved anonymous perpetrators who are presumed to be students because of the circumstances. Some may be duplicative of statistics kept by other offices at UNH.
The Affirmative Action Office continues to reach out to the University community and to provide education and training on issues of harassment, and to handle complaints in a confidential and timely manner.
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 (31 in number) brought a total of 38 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 38 complaints or incidents reported, 22 were reported to be unfounded, 15 founded, and one complaint was not followed through because a complainant did not pursue it further with the ADA Compliance Officer.
Of the reported 38 complaints or incidents, six were resolved, whether founded or unfounded, by some UNH formal action process (including Workers’ Compensation, Long Term Disability, and termination or suspension processes under the auspices of Facilities, Human Resources, or Deans’ offices).
Of the 15 founded complaints and incidents, three reported by faculty and one of two reported by students were handled informally; whereas five of the 10 founded complaints and incidents reported by staff were handled formally. The resolution of complaints and incidents is made in collaboration with Human Resource Partners, complainant’s supervisor, department heads and complainant.
All 10 founded complaints and incidents reported by staff 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). The two founded complaints and incidents reported by students were also determined to be founded on the grounds of access to programs, services and activities. Faculty founded complaints and incidents (three in number) were determined to be founded on the grounds of access to programs, services and activities. Although there were a total of 13 reported claims of disability harassment or discrimination, 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 31) was physical (e.g., spinal cord injury, back and knee injuries, quadriplegia, severe soft tissue injury). This was the case of last year’s leading number. trailing behind was physiological/internal medical conditions (e.g., heart, diabetes, blood disorder) (4 out of 31 complainants). No cases were identified as Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, visual or temporary; however, complainants could have such an impairment in addition to other impairments and therefore documented as having "multiple disabilities" for the purpose of this report.
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.
AY02 Affirmative Action Incident/Complaint Report [table ONE]
| GRAND TOTAL |
|
FACULTY/ INStr TOTAL |
STAFF/ ADM TOTAL |
STUDENT TOTAL |
GRAND TOTAL |
| No. of Individuals |
|
4 |
4 |
24* |
32* |
| Status of Accused(s) |
|
2 Faculty 2 Students |
3 Staff/Admin** 1 Student |
6 Faculty 14 Students*** 6 Staff/Admin |
|
| Type Claimed |
Sexual Harassment |
1 |
0 |
5 |
6 |
| Sexual Orientation |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
| Religion |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
|
| Disability |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
| Age |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Ethnicity/Race |
0 |
2 |
11 |
13 |
|
| Other/Not Protected |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
|
| Total Reported |
|
4 |
5 |
25 |
34 |
| Type Founded |
Sexual Harassment |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Sexual Orientation |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
|
| Religion |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
| Disability |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
| Age |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Ethnicity/Race |
0 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
|
| Other/Not Protected |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Total Founded |
|
1 |
1 |
14 |
16 |
| Total Unfounded |
|
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
| Type of Notification to AAO |
Informal by Individual |
3 |
0 |
4 |
7 |
| Informal by Third Party |
1 |
2 |
19 |
22 |
|
| Formal |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
| Type of Process Implemented |
Informal/Self-Solution |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Informal/Assisted |
3 |
0 |
7 |
10 |
|
| Referral/Assisted
by |
0 |
2 |
15 |
17 |
|
| Formal Action |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
| Other |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
| Action Taken |
Letter/Specific Action |
1 |
1 |
12 |
14 |
| Oral/Informal Action |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
| Termination |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Other |
3 |
2 |
7 |
12 |
|
| None/Unknown |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
NOTES:
* Includes complaints recorded by the Prejudice Response Team
** Staff/Admin include those enforcing UNH/USNH Policies
*** Students include student organizations
AY02 ADA Incident/Complaint Report [table TWO]
|
|
Status |
FACULTY TOTAL |
STUDENT TOTAL* |
STAFF TOTAL |
OTHER TOTAL |
GRAND TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Access to |
No. of Individuals |
3 |
8 |
17 |
3 |
31 |
|
Programs, |
Physical access |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
| Type |
Services, |
Accommodation |
3 |
2 |
9 |
0 |
14 |
| Claimed |
Activities |
Modification to Policy/Procedures |
0 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
7 |
|
|
Incident Subtotal |
3 |
7 |
14 |
1 |
25 |
|
|
Harassment |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
treatment |
Discrimination |
0 |
2 |
7 |
2 |
11 |
|
|
Incident Subtotal |
0 |
3 |
8 |
2 |
13 |
|
Notice of Rights and Responsibilities |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
Total Reported |
3 |
10 |
22 |
3 |
38 |
|
|
Type Founded |
3 |
2 |
10 |
0 |
15 |
|
|
Type Unfounded |
0 |
8 |
11 |
3 |
22 |
|
|
Informal by Individual |
0 |
7 |
6 |
1 |
14 |
| Type of Notification to ADA Compliance Officer UNH |
Informal by Third Party |
3 |
6 |
18 |
2 |
29 |
|
|
|
Formal by Individual |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Other |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Type of Process Implemented
|
Informal/Self-Solution |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
| Informal/Assisted |
3 |
10 |
18 |
2 |
33 |
||
| Referral/Assisted by Other Office |
3 |
10 |
19 |
1 |
33 |
||
| Formal Action |
0 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
6 |
||
| Other/External |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
Action Taken |
Letter/Specific Action |
0 |
3 |
12 |
1 |
16 |
|
| Oral/Informal Action |
3 |
7 |
6 |
1 |
17 |
||
| Termination/Suspension Claimant |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
||
| Termination/Suspension Accused |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
| Ltd (Long Term Disability) |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
||
| WC (Workers’ Compensation) |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
||
| Other/Unknown |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
||
| 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 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
||
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
||
|
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
||
| Type of |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
| Disability |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
||
|
1 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
12 |
||
| (Refers |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
||
| back to |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
| Individual) |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
||
|
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
||
|
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||
*Includes one student organization
2001-2002 Affirmative Action Annual Report
If you have any questions regarding the 2000-2001 Affirmative Action Annual Report, please contact the office at 603-862-2930 V/TTY or e-mail us at affirm.action@unh.edu. This report is available in alternate format upon request. You can also view it on our web site at http://www.unh.edu/affirmativeaction/.
UNH Distribution List
President Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs Vice President for Finance and Administration Vice President for Research and Public Service Vice President for Student Affairs Dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Dean of the College of Liberal Arts Dean of the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture Dean of the School of Health and Human Services Dean of the Whittemore School of Business and Economics Dean of the University of New Hampshire at Manchester Dean of the Graduate School Dean/University Librarian Dean of the Division of Continuing Education Dean/Director of Cooperative Extension Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Assistant Vice President for Human Resources Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Assistant Vice President for Facilities USNH General Counsel USNH Director of Human Resources Athletics Director Chair, Faculty Senate Speaker, Student Senate Student Body President Chair, PAT Council Chair, Operating Staff Council Chair, President’s Commission on the Status of People of Color Chair, President’s Commission on the Status of Women Chair, President’s Commission on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, transgendered Issues Chair, disAbility Awareness Committee NHPTV General Manager Chief of Police Director, Institute on Disability Director, Office of Multicultural Student Affairs Director, Access Office Director, News Bureau Director, Counseling center Director, Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention Program (SHARPP) Coordinator, Presidential Commissions The New Hampshire Campus Journal