The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Higher Education Massachusetts Community Colleges Policy on Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity & Diversity
Berkshire Community College, Bristol Community College, Bunker Hill Community College, Cape Cod Community College, Greenfield Community College, Holyoke Community College, Massachusetts Bay Community College, Massasoit Community College, Middlesex Community College, Mount Wachusett Community College, North Shore Community College, Northern Essex Community College, Quinsigamond Community College, Roxbury Community College, Springfield Technical Community College
CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL FOR MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITY COLLEGES POLICY ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY & DIVERSITY
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Community Colleges' Policy on Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity & Diversity has been approved for implementation by the Board of Higher Education, effective August 1, 2024.
This Policy shall replace the previous Policy, which was approved by the Board of Higher Education and implemented on August 14, 2020, as amended in August 2021. This Policy shall remain in full force and effect until a successor Policy is approved and implemented. The Community Colleges will continually review this Policy and the Complaint Procedure to ensure compliance with the requirements of federal and state laws and regulations.
Noe Ortega
Commissioner
Department of Higher Education
Implemented August 1, 2024
Download the Massachusetts Community Colleges Policy on Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity & Diversity this PDF also includes forms. View the table of contents for the policy below.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. OVERALL POLICY STATEMENT - page 5
B. POLICY STATEMENT ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
& DIVERSITY - page 6
C. DEFINITIONS - page 9
D. SPECIFIC POLICIES - page 18
I. Support of and Commitment to Diversity - page 19
II. Policy Against Prohibited Conduct - page 19
III. Sex-Based Harassment Policy - page 22
IV. Non-Discrimination and Accommodation for Persons with Disabilities - page 30
V. Accommodations for Parental Status, Pregnancy & Pregnancy-Related Conditions - page 32
VI. Contracting and Purchasing - page 34
E. IMPLEMENTATION OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY page - 35
F. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OFFICER AND TITLE IX COORDINATOR - page 36
G. DISSEMINATION OF POLICY - page 39
H. PLAN OF ACTION - page 40
a. Program Purpose and Intent - page 40
b. Scope - page 40
c. Workforce and Utilization Analysis - page 40
d. Under-Utilization - page 40
e. Goals - page 40
f. Identification of Problem Areas and Remedial Approaches - page 41
g. Programmatic & Collaborative Efforts - page 41
h. Individual Campus Efforts - page 42
I. HIRING GUIDELINES - page 43
J. COLLEGE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE - page 44
K. AUDITING AND REPORTING - page 45
L. COMPLAINT PROCEDURES - page 46
I. General Information for All Complaints - page 46
a. Application of Policy - page 46
b. Confidentiality of Process - page 46
c. Complainant Requests Confidentiality - page 46
d. Off Campus Behavior - page 46
e. Supportive Measures - page 47
f. Interim Action and Emergency Removal - page 48
g. Joint Investigation - page 49
h. Collateral Rights of Employees - page 49
i. Anonymous Report - page 49
j. Amnesty - page 49
k. Knowingly Making a False Report - page 50
l. Dismissal of Complaint - page 50
m. Informal Procedures - page 50
II. Complaint Process - page 51
Appendix A - Discrimination Complaint Form - page 56
Appendix B - Notice to Respondent - page 58