1. What are the differences between Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action?
    • Equal opportunity refers to employment or educational practices that ensure there is nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation and gender identity in employment and educational programs and activities.
    • Affirmative action is one aspect of efforts to ensure equal opportunity. The purpose of affirmative action programs is to promote fairness and address the effects of past discrimination by encouraging, among other things, targeted outreach efforts to attract underutilized minorities and women.
  1. What are the differences between a Complainant and a Respondent?
    • Complainant is the individual, group of people or a unit who raises a concern of wrongdoing, or files a complaint with the Office of Equal Opportunity & HR Compliance
    • Respondent is the individual, group of people, or a unit against whom a concern is raised or a complaint is filed with the Office of Equal Opportunity.
  1. What is the role of the Office of Equal Employment at Prairie View A&M University?
    • The Office of Equal Opportunity (EO)is the primary office at the Prairie View A&M University responsible for enforcing the University’s equal opportunity policies and for investigating complaints of discrimination, harassment and retaliation. EO is responsible for advancing and monitoring the University’s affirmative action plan and as part of our efforts to attract underutilized minorities, EO reviews all faculty employment searches. EO provides guidance to university managers and supervisors on matters related to protected status.
  1. What types of training does EO offer and when is the training available?
    • EO offers online and in-person training on all university policies related to equal opportunity and discrimination. Currently, EO assigns modules online as well as in-person. The subject matter of the training is detailed below:
      • Title VII Sexual Harassment Awareness & Prevention (in-person)
      • Preventing Harassment (in-person)
      • Creating A Discrimination Free Workplace (online)
      • Effective Hiring Practices (online)
      • Faculty Search Committee Training (in-person)
      • Staff Search Committee Training (in-person)
      • Creating a Culture of Workplace Civility (in-person)
    • These trainings and other types of trainings are generally by request, and in consultation with supervisors or managers of units wishing to receive training. If you would like to request training for your unit, please provide detailed information via email to: EO@pvamu.edu
  1. How do I know if I have an EO complaint?
    • If you feel that you have been discriminated against or harassed based on membership in a protected class (race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation and gender identity or retaliated against based on a protected activity ex: (filing a complaint, participating in a complaint investigation, etc.), you may submit a formal complaint form online at: EO online Complaint Form
  1. What types of complaints does EO investigate?
    • EO investigates formal complaints of discrimination on the basis of disability status.
    • EO investigates formal complaints of discrimination on the basis of Title VII sexual harassment/sexual misconduct in the work environment.
  1. What is a Title IX Coordinator and how do I contact them?
    • The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the University’s efforts to comply with the federal law: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including, but not limited to sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence, and different treatment on the basis of sex/gender.
    • If you have any questions regarding Title IX or would like to file a complaint involving sexual misconduct please contact the Office of Title IX Compliance at Prairie View A&M University that handles complaints of discrimination on the bases sexual harassment/misconduct, stalking and domestic violence for students.
    • The Office of Title IX Compliance is located in W.R. Banks Building, Ste. 224; Tel: (936) 261- 2144; Email: titleix@pvamu.edu
  1. I’m a What should I do if I learn of an incident informally, i.e. workplace or classroom rumors?
    • As a supervisor, if you learn about an incident of discrimination or harassment from a member of the university community, including visitors, you are required to immediately report the information to the Office of Equal Opportunity and your direct supervisor. The Office of Equal Opportunity can then determine the most appropriate response depending on the nature of the information you have reported.
  1. What should I do if I witness inappropriate conduct?
    • If you witness discriminatory or harassing behavior, or you become aware of such behavior, you responsible for promptly reporting the behavior to the Office of Equal Opportunity. The Prairie View A&M University is committed to the elimination and prevention of discrimination and harassment on our campus, and therefore, seeks the assistance of all employees and students to report incidents of harassment and discrimination.
    • Staff, faculty, administrators, teaching assistants, graduate assistants, research assistants, and other designated university representatives are required to report to the Office of Equal Opportunity incidents of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation that are brought to their attention by others or that are reported to them or witnessed by them.
  1. What happens when I file a complaint?
    • To initiate a complaint, please complete the EO Online Complaint Form and return the form to EEO. An investigator from our office will contact you and set up a time to meet with you to discuss the nature of your complaint and any concerns you may have that could require an interim measure. If EO determines that you have a viable discrimination or harassment complaint, the investigator will proceed with interviewing witnesses and Respondents in your case. For more information regarding the investigation process please download: Texas A&M University System, 08.01.01 Civil Rights Compliance Regulation; http://policies.tamus.edu/08-01-01.pdf
  1. I’ve been asked to attend a meeting with EO for an investigation, should I attend?
    • During the investigative process EO may ask to interview the complainant, respondent, and/or witnesses identified in the complaint. In order for EO to conduct a fair and through investigation it is imperative that the parties involved provide their account of the incident in their own words. Meeting with EO is for the purpose of finding facts related to the complaint.
  1. What happens at the conclusion of an EO investigation?
    • When EO has concluded its investigation, the Complainant and Respondent will receive a written determination notification from the University’s Designated Administrator. The determination notification will outline the complaint allegations and the determination of each. If the complaint is determined to be substantiated and there is a policy violation, notification will also be sent to the Respondent’s supervisor and to the supervisor of the academic or administrative unit which employs the Respondent. These individuals are directly responsible for implementing measures to correct and prevent discriminatory or retaliatory conditions.
  1. How do I request an ADA Accommodation?
    • EEO handles the process for employees obtaining ADA reasonable accommodations due to the presence of a disability. ADA Accommodations Page Link
    • However, there is the Office of Disability Services that handles the process for students obtaining a reasonable accommodation due to the presence of a disability. Office of Disability Services is located in Evans Hall, Room 319;

Tel: (936) 261-3583; Email: disabilityservices@pvamu.edu

Ms. Toya Douglas, M.B.A., Director of Equal Opportunity & HR Compliance, and Ms. Nichole Pope, Compliance Officer, have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies.
Ms. Douglas can be reached at: P.O. Box 519: Mail Stop 1337; Harrington Science Building, Suite 109; Prairie View, TX 77446-0519, or by calling 936-261-1792