Dear members of the campus community:

As chancellor, it is my responsibility to annually reaffirm our campus commitment to equal opportunity, affirmative action, and equal access.  This commitment is consistent with my unwavering belief that diversity, as part of a living, learning, and working community, is a cornerstone of excellence and a strategic imperative for us all in our effort to be a pre-eminent public research university with a land-grant mission and global impact.

The campus, as reflected by Inclusive Illinois, is committed to creating and maintaining a community that recognizes and values the inherent worth and dignity of every person, while fostering an environment of mutual respect among its members.  The campus takes seriously our responsibility to provide leadership in ensuring that equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, and equal access is our standard practice rather than an aspiration.  As such, university policy prohibits discrimination or harassment of any member of the campus community during any stage of the employment process.  This includes recruitment, selection, promotion, transfer, merit increases, salary, training and development, demotion, and separation on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, order of protection status, genetic information, marital status, disability, sexual orientation including gender identity and unfavorable discharge from the military or status as a protected veteran.  In addition, our affirmative action plan requires the campus to undertake good faith efforts to achieve the university’s affirmative action goals for women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and protected veterans.

In compliance with Title IX, the campus prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in employment as well as in admissions, enrollment, and in the provision of all services, programs and activities. The campus’s Title IX Office monitors compliance with this law and oversees the campus’s response to complaints of discrimination based on sex, including reported incidents of sexual assault.

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Access (www.diversity.illinois.edu) is a resource for the campus and is available to address any campus concerns involving these matters.  Realizing our shared vision of an Inclusive Illinois requires that we all annually reaffirm our individual commitment to building a truly diverse, welcoming, and inclusive community of students, scholars and staff.

Sincerely,

Phyllis M. Wise
Chancellor