STATEMENT OF POLICY
Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action for Individuals
with Disabilities and Qualified Protected Veterans

It is the policy of the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because he or she is an individual with a disability or a special disabled or recently separated veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era, or other protected veteran. It is also the policy of MU to take affirmative action to employ, and to advance in employment, individuals with disabilities and special disabled or recently separated veterans, veterans of the Vietnam era, or other protected veterans. This policy shall apply to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, reclassification, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, recall, termination, rate of pay or other forms of compensation, and selection for training, including apprenticeship. All employment decisions are to be based only on valid job requirements.

As Chancellor of MU, I am committed to the principles of affirmative action and equal opportunity. In order to ensure this policy's dissemination and implementation throughout all levels of the university, I have appointed Karen Touzeau, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Human Resource Services (MU), as the Affirmative Action Officer for MU. Her responsibilities will include designing and implementing an audit and review system that will (a) measure the effectiveness of the affirmative action program, (b) indicate any need for remedial action, (c) determine the degree to which objectives have been attained, (d) determine whether individuals with known disabilities have had the opportunity to participate in all MU-sponsored educational, training, recreational, and social activities, and (e) measure MU's compliance with the affirmative action program's specific objectives. Where the affirmative action is found to be deficient, MU will undertake necessary steps to bring the program into compliance.

Employees and applicants shall not be subjected to harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion or discrimination because they have engaged in or may engage in any of the following activities: (a) filing a complaint; (b) assisting or participating in an investigation, compliance review, hearing, or any other activity related to the administration of Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, or any other federal, state, or local law requiring equal opportunity for disabled persons; (c) opposing any act or practice made unlawful by Section 503 or its implementing regulations, or any other federal, state, or local law requiring equal opportunity for disabled persons; or (d) exercising any other right protected by Section 503 or its implementing regulations.

In furtherance of its policy of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity, MU has developed a written Affirmative Action Program which sets forth the policies, practices, and procedures which MU is committed to applying in order to ensure that its policy of non-discrimination against, and affirmative action for, individuals with disabilities and special disabled or recently separated veterans, veterans of the Vietnam era, or other protected veterans is accomplished. This Affirmative Action Program is available for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment during normal business hours in the Human Resource Services (MU) Department. Interested persons should contact Karen Touzeau, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Human Resource Services (MU), at 882-4256, for assistance.

Dr. Brady Deaton
Chancellor