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FAQs
About Affirmative Action
The
Maricopa County Community College District is a federal contractor subject
to Executive Order 11246 which prescribes affirmative action in the hiring
of women and minorities. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions
about Affirmative Action.
What
is affirmative action?
It's a tool used to reach the goal of fair employment by eliminating the
effects of past discrimination.
How
does it work?
In applying the doctrine, a contractor ensures that applicants and employees
are treated equally, without regard to their race, color, religion, sex
or national origin. To accomplish this, the contractor develops a program
that targets underutilized areas (i.e., job groups with a smaller representation
of minorities or women in proportion to their actual representation in
the qualified labor market). Affirmative action directs outreach and recruitment
to these areas.
There's
so much controversy associated with affirmative action--is it still being
actively practiced?
The status of affirmative action is unclear to many people because of
the passage of anti-affirmative action legislation in states such as California.
Affirmative Action was also a source of heated debate during the last
presidential election. While many states are taking a critical look at
the practice of affirmative action, state laws do not overrule federal
mandates. In the event of state legislation in Arizona, the Maricopa Community
College District will continue its affirmative action program.
Isn't
Affirmative Action just reverse discrimination?
"Reverse
discrimination" has been used to suggest that the efforts to practice
affirmative action for one group automatically results in discrimination
against another. But an affirmative action program that focuses on underutilized
areas and eliminates barriers to ensure all applicants have a fair opportunity
to compete need not result in reverse discrimination.
Moreover, EEO laws extend to all persons who believe they have been adversely
affected by illegal discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion,
national origin, sex (including pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment),
physical or mental disability, age (over 40), Vietnam-era/disabled veteran
status. MCCCDs' nondiscrimination policy prohibits discrimination on the
basis of sexual orientation as well.
Does
affirmative action require quotas or "set asides" for minorities
and women?
No, affirmative action does not require quotas or set asides. In areas
where minorities or women are underutilized, hiring or promotional goals
are established, per the Executive Order requirements.
Does
MCCCD practice affirmative action in its student admissions?
Many public colleges and universities consider factors such as race and
gender-- among other criteria--in student admissions. But MCCCD has an
open-door policy: it does not use race or gender as an admissions criterion.
While MCCCD's affirmative action plan highlights college activities and
efforts related to the outreach and recruitment of minority and women
students, official goals and timetables are for employees only.
MCCCD students are covered under the nondiscrimination policy for resolving
complaints by students who believe they have been adversely affected by
illegal or MCCCD-prohibited discrimination by the college/center, MCCCD,
or its students or employees. Complaints may be based on race, color,
religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy discrimination and
sexual harassment), sexual orientation, age, and physical or mental disability.
I'm
an employee of the District. How does affirmative action affect me?
Affirmative action shouldn't negatively affect any person within the organization.
Affirmative action efforts generally take place during the recruitment
and selection process and are designed to attract more qualified candidates,
as well as provide broad perspectives on selection committees. Successful
outreach and recruitment makes an applicant pool more competitive. In
addition, affirmative action causes an organization to review how its
employees are progressing within the organization and to assess if it
has barriers that affect promotional opportunities.
I
feel that I've been discriminated against. What should I do? MCCCD has an internal complaint process for filing discrimination complaints.
You can find a copy of the procedures as well as the complaint form (for
students and employees) on our Web site. Click
here.
The Maricopa County Community College District is an EEO/AA institution.
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