Discrimination Complaint Form

Filing a Complaint

If you prefer to print and fill out a complaint form, please click here. After you have filled out the complaint form, bring it directly to the Diversity Office (Administration Building, Room 335). Please do not send through interoffice mail. All files must remain confidential.

• Complaint Form

IMPORTANT TERMS

 

Affirmative Action: specific actions in recruitment, hiring, promotions and other areas designed to eliminate the present effects of past discrimination or to prevent discrimination. It is a proactive program where aggressive steps of outreach and support of community action programs that consider women and minorities currently not in the workforce are developed.

 

Complainant: the party asserting an allegation of prohibited harassment, sexual harassment, or discrimination against a person.

 

Discrimination: is an action or behavior that results in negative or different treatment of an individual based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, unfavorable military discharge, or status as a veteran.

 

Harassment: is uninvited and unwelcome verbal or physical conduct directed at a person because of their race, color, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, unfavorable military discharge, or status as a veteran.    

 

Respondent: the party against whom an allegation of prohibited harassment, sexual harassment, or discrimination is asserted.

 

Retaliation: any adverse or credible threat of an adverse action taken by the University, or member if the University, in response to a complainant’s good faith disclosure of an alleged violation of the Worcester State University Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action policies. 

 

Sexual Harassment: is an uninvited and unwelcome physical, verbal, or non-verbal; behavior of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, sexual advances, repeated date requests, sexual gestures, sexual cartoons or images, and discussions about sexual activity. 

 

RETALIATORY ACTION PROHIBITED

 

Under applicable local, state or federal non-discrimination statutes, the University

prohibits retaliatory action against the following: 

1. Persons who file claims, complaints or charges under these procedures, or with an outside agency.
2. Persons who are suspected of having filed such claims, complaints or charges.
3. Persons who have assisted or participated in an investigation or resolution of such claims, complaints or charges.
4. Persons who have protested practices alleged to be violative of the non-discrimination policy of the University, the Higher Education Coordinating Council, or local, state or federal non-discrimination regulation or statute. 

A claim of retaliation may be processed through the University's complaint procedures

as well as under state and federal law. Retaliation, even in the absence of provable

discrimination in the original complaint, charge or allegation, constitutes a violation as serious as proved discrimination under the original complaint, charge or allegation. Any person who believes s/he has been retaliated against in this manner is encouraged to immediately file a claim or complaint under these procedures.

 

Other Administrative Options

 

It is the intent of the administration of Worcester State University to actively respond to all claims/complaints of discrimination with the hope that it can fully, quickly and adequately resolve them internally. The University also recognizes the right of all complainants to file charges of unlawful discrimination with the appropriate federal, state or local agency with or without first pursuing a resolution of the claim/complaint through the University's discrimination complaint procedures. These agencies include:

 

United States Department of Education

Office for Civil Rights

33 Arch Street, Suite 900

Boston, MA 02110

617-289-0111

 

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

One Congress Street, 10th Floor

Boston, MA 02114

617-565-3200

 

Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination

One Ashburton Place, Room 601

Boston, MA 02108

617-994-6111

 

Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination

424 Dwight Street, Second Floor, Room 220

Springfield, MA 01103

413-739-2145

 

Any member of the campus community who has concerns about equal opportunity should ask to see the Director of Diversity/Affirmative Action Officer, Room 335, ext. 8117.

 

All policies included in this brochure are based on guidelines established by the Higher Education Coordinating Council in the Affirmative Action Equal Employment Opportunity/Diversity Plan of 2007.