President William R. Brody has issued the following statement to all members of the university community as a reminder of the university's long-standing dedication to equal opportunity.

Each year the university formally reaffirms its commitment to equal opportunity for its faculty, students and staff. As a matter of policy to which it is staunchly committed, the university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status or veteran status. The university is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors that are irrelevant to the program involved.

The university's equal opportunity policy is essential to its mission of excellence in education and research and applies to all academic programs administered by the university, its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs and athletic programs. It applies to all employment decisions, including those affecting hiring, promotion, demotion or transfer; recruitment; advertisement of vacancies; layoff and termination; compensation and benefits; and selection for training. Consistent with its obligations under law, it also extends to the maintenance of affirmative action programs for minorities, women, disabled persons and veterans.

The university assigns a high priority to the implementation of its equal opportunity policy, and significant university resources are devoted to assuring compliance with all laws prohibiting discrimination in employment and educational programs. Ray Gillian, the university's director of equal opportunity and affirmative action programs, is responsible for assisting me and other university officers in the implementation of equal opportunity and affirmative action programs. Members of the university community are encouraged to contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Programs at N-710 Wyman Park Building, Homewood campus, 410-516-8075, or the divisional offices of Human Resources regarding any questions or concerns about these matters.

October 2001