Dear UNC-Chapel Hill Community,
We are so excited to begin a new academic year at Carolina. We write today to share important information about University policies that exist to foster an environment free from discrimination and harassment based on protected status, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, interpersonal violence, stalking, and retaliation. It is incumbent on every member of our community to follow these policies so that opportunities to learn, work, and thrive at the University remain possible for everyone.
Addressing Misconduct
Visit the Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office (EOC) website to learn more about the University’s Non-Discrimination Policy Statement and relevant University policies and procedures, including the Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment and Related Misconduct and the Policy on Prohibited Sexual Harassment Under Title IX. On the EOC website, you can also learn more about the University’s policy and procedures addressing violence in the workplace. This website also includes contact information for available reporting options such as the EOC’s Report and Response team; the EOC online reporting form; and UNC Police.
The Safe at UNC website has information about confidential resources such as Campus Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the Employee Assistance Program, the University’s Gender Violence Services Coordinators, and the University Ombuds Office.
Policy Updates
The Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office will continue to maintain both the Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct and the Policy on Prohibited Sexual Harassment Under Title IX.
Among the key changes:
- The PPDHRM expands the pool of employees who are required to report prohibited conduct under the PPDHRM to the Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office. Under this expansion, all employees, including staff, faculty, and other instructors, are now Responsible Employees, except for confidential employees who are acting in their confidential capacity. When any employee has information about discrimination or harassment based on protected status, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, interpersonal violence, stalking, workplace violence, or retaliation related to an EOC policy, the employee is required to report that information to the EOC.
- New requirements are also in place for employees who become aware that a student at the University is pregnant or has a related medical condition. When a student tells an employee they are pregnant or have a related medical condition, the employee must provide the student with contact information for the Title IX coordinator. The employee must let the student know that EOC can work with them to prevent discrimination and ensure their equal access to education. Employees can fulfill this obligation by providing the student with this link: go.unc.edu/pregnancyaccommodations.
- Revisions to the PPDHRM also include clarifications to existing definitions of prohibited conduct, including clarifying that the PPDHRM prohibits sexual exploitation through the use of AI-generated images.
- The PPDHRM now also explicitly prohibits certain misuse of information provided during an EOC process
Please visit the “policy updates” section of the EOC website to learn more about these changes.
Accommodations
Earlier this year, Accessibility Resources and Service (ARS) merged with Equal Opportunity and Compliance, streamlining accommodation support and related resources for the University. This means EOC now facilitates disability accommodation requests for students in addition to faculty, staff, applicants, and visitors. EOC also continues to oversee the accommodation request process for religion, and pregnancy and related medical conditions. Please visit EOC’s website to learn more.
NEW this year: EOC partnered with other key campus stakeholders to launch an enhanced Accessibility at UNC online guide. The new website highlights the University’s efforts to improve accessibility for all and serves as a universal hub for accessibility resources at Carolina.
Statements
The policies on non-discrimination, Title IX, and accommodations are designed to create an equitable and discrimination-free environment for all members of the Carolina community. The statements are included in full below to bring greater awareness to the University’s standards.
Non-Discrimination Policy Statement: The University is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment and to ensuring that educational and employment decisions are based on individuals’ abilities and qualifications. Consistent with these principles and applicable laws, it is therefore the University’s policy not to discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status as consistent with the University’s Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment and Related Misconduct. No person, on the basis of protected status, shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under any University program or activity, including with respect to employment terms and conditions. Such a policy ensures that only relevant factors are considered, and that equitable and consistent standards of conduct and performance are applied.
Title IX Statement: As required by federal law, the University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs or activities, in admission, or in employment. Information about the University’s procedures for addressing discrimination on the basis of sex is available in the University’s Policy on Prohibited Sexual Harassment Under Title IX and in the University’s Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct. Any person may report sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, in person, by mail, by telephone or by e-mail to the University’s Title IX Coordinator, Elizabeth Hall, at the information below. Inquiries about the application of Title IX may be referred to the University’s Title IX Coordinator or to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
Accommodations Statement: As required by federal law, the University is committed to equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities, individuals who are pregnant or experiencing related medical conditions, and individuals regardless of religious belief and does not discriminate on the basis of disability, pregnancy or related medical conditions, or religion in its educational programs or activities, in admission, or in employment. Information about the University’s procedures for providing accommodations to individuals with disabilities, pregnant individuals, or individuals with religious beliefs is available in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Policy on Accommodations.
Information about the University’s procedures for addressing discrimination on the basis of protected status is available in the University’s Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment and Related Misconduct.
We look forward to working together to uphold our community values of equity and safety.
Sincerely,
Becci Menghini
Vice Chancellor for Human Resources and Equal Opportunity and Compliance
Elizabeth Hall
Associate Vice Chancellor for Equal Opportunity and Compliance
Title IX Coordinator
214 W. Cameron Ave., 2nd Floor
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
(919) 445-1297
[email protected]