Affirmative action also means that organizations must actively seek to remove any barriers that artificially limit the professional and personal development of individuals who are members of protected classes. Affirmative steps should be taken to attract those qualified women and minorities in the field. These efforts include recruiting, employing, and advancing qualified women, minorities and people with disabilities who have been or who are excluded from jobs. One way to increase the number of women and minorities in the workplace is through advertising job openings in journals and publications aimed at women and minority audiences. An even more effective means of increasing women and minorities is developing a network of women and minorities in the field and contacting them directly about opportunities.
Affirmative action applies to all job categories and levels.
The major responsibilities of the Office of Affirmative Action are to educate the University community about affirmative action and equal employment laws, and to ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. Recruitment and selection of Merit System personnel is carried out through Employment Services. All questions regarding procedures and documents for Merit System positions should be addressed to Employment Services in the University Services Building. The goals of diversity cannot be achieved unless we hire veterans and people with disabilities, as well as women and members of all minority groups. Additionally, hiring women or minorities in positions which do not offer potential for advancement, or tokenism in hiring, is not acceptable.