Equal Opportunity and Outreach

Equal Opportunity


 

The 21st century brings far different issues than decades past. Equal opportunity and anti-discrimination laws are in place to protect our society from acts of discrimination and harassment.  Discrimination can occur on the basis of any one of the following categories: race, age, gender, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, reserves status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, retaliation, criminal record. The Protected Categories are defined on this page.

UMass Lowell's policy on Equal Opportunity is available online: Administrative Announcement - Equal Opportunity (pdf).

Employers are expected to provide working environments free from discrimination. The state and federal compliance agencies, EOOC and MCAD, interpret the application of these anti-discriminatoin laws.  The EOO has the responsibility of applying these standards to its review of concerns and complaints of discrimination.

This website provides you with information on equal opportunity law, what constitutes discrimination and what you can do if you feel that you have been discriminated against. 

Supervisors have additional responsibilities regarding equal opportunity, preventing discrimination including sexual harassment, and responding to concerns of discrimination.  A supervisor is any employee who directs the work of others, including students.  Thus all faculty are included in these responsibilities.

For information on filing an internal complaint, please contact Equal Opportunity and Outreach at 978-934-3565. Simply calling our office does not constitute filing a complaint.  Please see here for some basic information on What You Need To Know about filing an internal complaint.

At any time, you may contact the following regarding filing an external complaint.

  1. The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) 
        John F. Kennedy Federal Building
        Boston, MA  02203 
        800-669-4000
        TTY: 800-669-6820
  2. The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)
        One Ashburton Place
        Sixth Floor, Room 601
        Boston, MA  02108
        617-994-6000
        TTY: 617-994-6196
  3. Office for Civil Rights
        Boston Office
        U.S. Department of Education
        33 Arch Street, Suite 900
        Boston, MA  02110-1491
        617-289-0111
        TDD: 877-521-2172

Equal Opportunity and Outreach - One University Avenue, Cumnock Hall C4, Lowell, MA 01854
Phone: 978-934-3565 Fax: 978-934-3032 Contact Us

This is an Official Page/Publication of the University of Massachusetts Lowell