The Office of Equal Opportunity and Outreach at UMass Lowell serves as the primary office tasked with responding to external allegations under Non-Discrimination Laws, including but not limited to Title II, ADA, Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, and applicable Massachusetts General Laws.
External complaints may come from a myriad of external agencies, including but not limited to: the Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Dept. of Education, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, litigation filed in court, and/or other federal, state, and/or local agencies.
Employees at UMass Lowell who receive notice of a complaint related to Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment, Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and/or Retaliation are obligated to promptly forward a copy of the complaint to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Outreach at:
Office of Equal Opportunity and Outreach
Phone: 978-934-3565
email: equal_opportunity@uml.edu
Or directly to the Director:
William Cummings
Director of Equal Opportunity and Outreach and Compliance
Phone: 978-934-3565
Email: William_Cummings@uml.edu
Employees should generally refrain from making any statements or submitting any responses to external agencies. If any Employee chooses to respond, they may acknowledge receipt of the notification and notify the agency that they have forwarded the notification to the appropriate office, which will be in touch.
The Office of Equal Opportunity and Outreach will coordinate a response with the Employee, Office, Department, Division, and/or applicable Vice Chancellor on behalf of the University.
The response will be coordinated with the UMass Office of the General Counsel as applicable. This response will serve as the official response of the University.
Employees are reminded to preserve any and all evidence, which may include but is not limited to: documents, emails, notes, information, etc., that may be relevant to an allegation of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, sex discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, or the University’s response thereof.
Employees have a duty to cooperate as it relates to responding to external complaints, investigations, and litigation.