This document represents Skidmore College s philosophy and perspective on these concepts. In addition, it presents the College s policies, objectives, and plans for maintaining its status as an equal opportunity employer and educator, for enhancing its affirmative action initiatives, and for supporting its goal of extending the diversity of its community. Equal opportunity may best be described as the foundation for affirmative action and diversity. In other words, the promise of equal opportunity is that no person will be denied access to opportunities for education, employment, and housing, due to factors such as race, color, religion, gender, disability, age, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation.
Affirmative action presents the proactive side of equal opportunity.
It requires institutions to take positive action to develop policies, programs, and procedures that implement the spirit of the equal opportunity law. Affirmative action is essential if students are to be educated to take their place in a world that is already truly multinational and international in character. Rather, this commitment to becoming a community where differences are valued is internally motivated. A diverse community provides us with the opportunity to learn from the experiences of others and to submit our own values and assumptions to critical examination. We learn to understand ourselves in a richer environment that encourages deepened appreciation of other individuals, other cultures, other perspectives.