It is the policy of the College to undertake a program of Affirmative Action designed to prohibit discrimination and provide equitable employment and equal access to its programs and services without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran, the presence of a sensory, mental or physical disability or genetic information.
The College further reaffirms its commitment to affirmative action for Asian/Pacific Islanders, African Americans/Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans/Alaskan Natives, women, and persons over 40, persons of disability and disabled and Vietnam era veterans. It encourages college staff to strive to eliminate barriers to equal employment opportunity encountered by protected class members and improve employment opportunities available to underutilized groups.
The Executive Human Resource Officer is responsible to establish and implement employment practices consistent with those prescribed for all agencies of the State of Washington.
To further the principles of affirmative action and equal opportunity employment, which are fundamental to the goals and objectives of the college, the College has adopted the following definitions:
Affirmative Action – Actions, policies, and procedures to which an employer commits itself that are designed to achieve equal employment opportunity. The affirmative action obligation includes 1) thorough, systematic efforts to prevent discrimination from occurring or to detect it and eliminate it as promptly as possible; and 2) recruitment and outreach measures.
Affirmative Action Plan – A plan by which a government contractor or employer sets forth specific affirmative actions to eliminate and remedy past discrimination against or under-utilization of protected classes. It shall not mean any sort of quota system.
American Indian or Alaskan Native – a person with origins in any of the original peoples of North America and who maintains cultural identification through documented tribal affiliation or community recognition.
Asian/Pacific Islander – A person with origins in any part of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands. For example, China, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, the Philippine Republic, and Samoa.
Black/African American – A person with origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.
Disabled Person – Federal and state definitions vary. The term disability is substitute for the term handicap in the following definitions:
- The Federal Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Definition – A person is disabled who: a) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities; b) has a record of such an impairment or c) Is regarded as having such an impairment (Section 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990).
The Washington State Affirmative Action Definition –
(1) "Disability" is short for the statutory term "the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability," except when it appears as part of the full term.
(2) "The presence of a sensory, mental, or physical disability" includes, but is not limited to, circumstances where a sensory, mental, or physical condition:
(a) Is medically cognizable or diagnosable;
(b) Exists as a record or history;
(c) Is perceived to exist whether or not it exists in fact.
A condition is a "sensory, mental, or physical disability" if it is an abnormality and is a reason why the person having the condition did not get or keep the job in question, or was denied equal pay for equal work, or was discriminated against in other terms and conditions of employment, or was denied equal treatment in other areas covered by the statutes. In other words, for enforcement purposes a person will be considered to be disabled by a sensory, mental, or physical condition if he or she is discriminated against because of the condition and the condition is abnormal.
Disabled Veteran – A person entitled to disability compensation under laws administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for disability rated at 30 percent or more, or a person whose discharge or release from active duty was for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
Equal Employment Opportunity – The opportunity to obtain employment, promotions, and other benefits of employment without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, sexual preference, national origin, age, physical, sensory or mental disability or status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran.
Genetic Information - includes information about an individual’s genetic tests and the genetic tests of an individual’s family members, as well as information about any disease, disorder, or condition of an individual’s family members (i.e. an individual’s family medical history). Family medical history is included in the definition of genetic information because it is often used to determine whether someone has an increased risk of getting a disease, disorder, or condition in the future
Hispanic – A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race. For example, persons from Brazil, Guyana, or other Surinam would be classified according to their race and would not necessarily be included in the Hispanic category. This category does not include persons from Portugal, who should be classified according to race.
Martial Status – The legal status of being married, single, separated, divorced or widowed. It does not include consideration of cohabitation relationships.
Nepotism - The informal practice, which results in the refusal to employ more than one member of a family on the basis of family relationships, is not a policy of the college. The best- qualified person is actively recruited for all positions and consideration is based solely on merit. Family relationships shall not be used as basis for denying rights, privileges or benefits of regular appointment of regular job status. However, members of the same family will not screen, hire or supervise members of their immediate family.
Sexual Orientation – Heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual, or asexual.
White/Caucasian – A person with origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East.
Vietnam era Veteran – A person who served on active duty for a period of more than 180 days, any part of which occurred between August 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975, and was discharged or released from duty with other than a dishonorable discharge