Discrimination
Complaint Procedures
for Employees
This procedure provides a means for resolving complaints by employees (within all job group classifications) who believe they have been adversely affected by illegal or MCCCD-prohibited discrimination by the college/center, MCCCD, or their students or employees. Complaints may be brought under this procedure for discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender (including pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment), physical or mental disability, age (over 40), Vietnam- era/disabled veteran status, sexual orientation or retaliation for expressing concerns about discrimination, or participating in or filing a complaint of discrimination.
REPORT
Employees who believe they are experiencing sexual harassment may utilize either the REPORT or THE INFORMAL OR FORMAL complaint processes.
Filing
a REPORT of Sexual Harassment
An
employee who believes that he or she is or has been the victim of sexual
harassment, as prohibited by MCCCD policy, may REPORT (either orally or
in writing) the conduct or commentary to any or all of the following:
- The academic or administrative official(s) responsible for the unit or department involved (i.e., department chair, department manager);
- The appropriate Vice President or designee at each campus;
- The MCCCD EEO/AA Office (located at 2411 West 14th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281, 480-731-8885).
The REPORT shall be made within 60 calendar days of the alleged sexual harassment.
The recipient of the REPORT will have a meeting with the alleged harasser.
The meeting shall include: identifying the behavior as described in the
report; alerting the alleged harasser to the perception of the impact
of his or her behavior; providing the individual with a copy of the MCCCD
Sexual Harassment Policy; encouraging attendance at one of MCCCD's sexual
harassment workshops; and encouraging greater awareness of behaviors which
may lead to perceptions of sexual harassment. The name of the complainant
will not be identified to the respondent during the REPORT process; however,
complainants should be aware that they may be called as a witness in subsequent
disciplinary or due process proceedings, as well as in litigation.
Before having this meeting, all administrative officials must consult
with the Manager, EEO/AA--or her or his designee.
The meeting must be conducted within ten (10) working days of receipt
of the REPORT.
A summary of the allegations of the report and the outcome of the meeting
shall be forwarded to the MCCCD EEO/AA Office within SEVEN (7) working
days of the meeting.
Informal
Resolution of Discrimination Complaints
Resolution at the informal level focuses on addressing behavior or conduct that is perceived as discriminatory, with the complainant stating why it is viewed as offensive or inappropriate. Before filing a formal complaint under this procedure, an employee may attempt to resolve the problem through informal discussions with the person claimed to be responsible for the discriminatory action, that person's supervisor, the college president or provost, Vice President or the appropriate vice chancellor. Matters of concern that could rise to a complaint may be reported accordingly to the appropriate supervisor or administrator for the purpose of seeking resolution before the issue(s) escalate or requires more formal attention. An employee that believes discriminatory conduct as prohibited by MCCCD policy may report (either orally or in writing) the conduct or commentary to any or all of the following:
- The academic or administrative official(s) responsible for the unit or department involved (i.e., department chair, department manager);
- The Vice President of Administration or designee at each campus
Attempts to informally resolve alleged discrimination should occur sixty (60) calendar days of the alleged discriminatory act. Parties may contact the EEO/AA office for direction in conducting the informal process.
Once the complaint is informally resolved, a summary of the allegations and the final resolution shall be forwarded to the MCCCD EEO/AA Office within seven (7) working days.
For complaints dealing with alleged discrimination beyond the 60-day timeframe, an employee must submit a written complaint under the formal resolution procedure of this policy.
If the complaint cannot be informally resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant, the complainant has the right to file a written complaint within 180 calendar days of the alleged discriminatory act and to proceed under formal resolution procedures.
Formal
Resolution of Discrimination Complaints/Investigation Process
An employee (either part- or full-time) who contends that unlawful or MCCCD-prohibited employment discrimination has occurred, may file a written complaint by contacting the MCCCD EEO/AA Office at the following address:
Maricopa County Community College District
EEO/AA Office
2411 West 14th Street
Tempe, Arizona 85281
Tel: 480-731-8885
A
complaint must be signed by the complainant and filed on the form provided
by the MCCCD EEO/AA Office. The MCCCD EEO/AA Office will accept complaint
filings within 180 calendar days of the occurrence of the alleged
discriminatory event.
The manager of EEO/AA will review the matter or designate another party to do so. The complaint must identify the action, decision, conduct, or other basis that constituted an alleged act or practice of unlawful or MCCCD-prohibited discrimination. The complaint must also allege that the action, decision, or occurrence was taken or based on the complainant's race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age (over 40), disability, Vietnam-era veteran status, or other unlawful discriminatory grounds, including retaliation. The role of the EEO/AA office is to serve as a neutral, fact-finding party. The office shall review its role and the complaint process with both the complainant and the respondent.
1. Upon receipt of a complaint, the EEO/AA Office will notify the college president and the Vice Chancellor of Human Resources. Other administrators such as the provost, division vice chancellor or Vice President, may also be notified as appropriate.
2. A copy of the complaint (or a summary of the allegations) will be shared with the respondent seven (7) working days of receipt by the EEO/AA Office. Respondent will be put on notice that retaliation against the complainant will not be tolerated and that an investigation will be conducted by the MCCCD EEO/AA Department.
3. Respondent must provide a written response to the complaint within fifteen (15) working days of his/her receipt of the complaint.
4. After accepting a complaint, the MCCCD EEO/AA Office will conduct a fact-finding investigation which will include, at a minimum, a review of written evidence (including the complaint and the response) and interviews with appropriate employees and students. Upon request, the EEO/AA office may apprise the appropriate college and/or district official(s) of the status of the complaint without disclosing any matters that may be confidential.
5. Upon completion of the investigation, the EEO/AA Office will issue a letter of determination to the complainant and respondent. This letter will indicate if there was/was not sufficient evidence or testimony to support the allegations. The EEO/AA Office will also send a copy of the letter of determination to the appropriate college president, provost, vice chancellor, or vice president.
6. If the investigation warrants, a report of findings may also be issued to the parties named above. It will contain information as to the scope of the investigation and specificity as to any managerial or administrative matters that may need to be addressed. This report will include recommendations for action.
7. The EEO/AA Office will submit its findings and recommendations to the president, provost, vice chancellor within ninety (90) working days of receipt of the complaint by the EEO/AA Office.
8. The president, provost vice chancellor will accept, reject, or modify the recommendations and will provide a written notification of his/her action to the parties within fifteen (15) working days of receiving the EEO/AA Department's findings.
When the investigation confirms the allegations, appropriate corrective action will be taken. Appropriate corrective action is determined solely by MCCCD, college or center and, with the exception of demotion, suspension without pay, or termination, cannot be appealed. Recommendations regarding such action will be reviewed with the vice chancellor for human resources.
Evidence which is collateral to the allegations of discrimination and/or sexual harassment and which was obtained during an investigation under these procedures may be used in subsequent grievance/disciplinary procedures.
TIMEFRAMES FOR INVESTIGATION
The timeframes for complaint investigation and response, identified in the following paragraphs, may be extended for good reason, such as (but not limited to) when classes are not in session or upon mutual agreement by the parties to the complaint. Extensions shall be confirmed in writing to the complainant and the respondent.
MCCCD
Administrative Review Process: Request for Reconsideration
If either party is unsatisfied with the finding, he or she may submit a written request for administrative review to the Vice Chancellor for Human Resources. The request must be submitted within ten (10) working days of the date of receipt of the finding.
The request for administrative review must state specific reasons why the party believes the finding was improper.
The Vice Chancellor for Human Resources will review the finding and respond to the request within ten (10) working days from receipt of the request.
If the Vice Chancellor determines that the finding was not supported by the evidence, the case file will be reopened and assigned for further investigation.
If the Vice Chancellor determines that the investigation was thorough and complete, he or she will deny the request for reconsideration. At this point, the parties have exhausted the Internal Discrimination Complaint Procedure.
Maintenance
of Documentation
Documentation resulting from the investigation at each level in the complaint procedure will be maintained according to applicable records retention laws in the MCCCD EEO/AA Office and is not considered part of an employee's personnel file. Documentation regarding corrective action will be made part of the employee's personnel file.
Right to Representation
A party to the complaint may be represented by another person at any stage of the investigation of a charge filed under this Internal Discrimination Complaint Procedure.
Confidentiality of Proceedings
Every effort will be made by the college and MCCCD to protect the confidentiality of the parties during the processing of complaints under this procedure. Records will be maintained in a confidential manner to the extent permitted by law and insofar as they do not interfere with MCCCD's legal obligation to investigate and resolve issues of discrimination.
Retaliation Prohibited
Retaliation against a person who has filed a complaint or against any witness questioned during an investigation is strictly prohibited. Any retaliatory action by instructors, supervisors, managers, academic professionals, administrators, or other employees who have the authority to take adverse action against a complainant or witness is prohibited and may be grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.
False Statements Prohibited
Any individual who knowingly provides false information pursuant to filing a discrimination charge or during the investigation of a discrimination charge, will be subject to appropriate discipline, up to and including, termination.
Employee Time
Employees must not be penalized for time used in the filing of complaints or the participation in the investigation of complaints as such action is to be considered MCCCD business.
External
Filing of Discrimination Complaints
MCCCD encourages individuals to use the MCCCD Internal Complaint Procedure for resolution of discrimination concerns. Individuals also have the right to file civil rights complaints with appropriate external agencies in addition to their internal complaint. No retaliation will be taken against a person for filing a complaint with an external agency. The following agencies accept and investigate complaints of unlawful employment discrimination:
Office of the Attorney General
Civil Rights Division (ACRD)
1275 West Washington Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: 602-542-5263
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Phoenix District Office
3300 N. Central Ave., Suite 690
Phoenix, Arizona 85012
Phone: 602-640-5000
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)
Department Of Labor
3221 North 16th Street, Suite #303
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
Phone: 602-514-7033
Office for Civil Rights, Region VIII (OCR)
Denver
Office
U.S.
Department of Education
Federal Building
1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310
Denver, Colorado 80204-3582
Phone: 303-844-5695
Fax:
303-844-4303
E-mail: OCR_Denver@ed.gov
To file a complaint, please download the Discrimination
Complaint Form for Employees.
The Maricopa County Community College District is an EEO/AA institution.
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