Diversity & Equity Bulletin
STONY BROOK, N.Y., September 27, 2017
From The Office of Institutional Diversity & Equity (OIDE)
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Now that Fall 2017 is in full swing, we wanted to take this opportunity highlight some of our initiatives and to remind you of some of the resources and services available from the Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity (OIDE). |  |
In This Issue...
- Open Cast Call: SBU On-Line Trainings
- What is OIDE? Equity, Diversity, Title IX & ADA
- ADA Accommodation Process
- Student's Bill of Rights
- Reporting Discrimination - Why it is important?
- Haven: Understanding Sexual Assault
- Required Reporting: Responsible Employee
Open Cast Call
SBU On-Line Trainings
OIDE is developing multiple on-line trainings to compliment on-going efforts of training and outreach. These trainings may address a variety of issues -- from sexual assault prevention and awareness to disability accommodation requests. The target audience may include entire campus community or any subset population - including students and/or employees.
We are looking for some volunteers from the Stony Brook community – students, staff and faculty as narrators by recording either videos or voice-overs.
If you are interested in participating, please email us OIDE@stonybrook.edu for more information.
What is OIDE? Equity, Diversity, Title IX & ADA
OIDE is charged with ensuring that the Stony Brook University experience provides equal opportunity and is safe, welcoming, accessible and free from discrimination. We serve the most of the campus community, including students, staff and faculty on West Campus, Stony Brook Medicine, the Long Island State Veteran’s Home and Stony Brook Southampton.
Stony Brook University is committed to the prevention and elimination of all forms of discrimination, including discriminatory harassment and sexual misconduct. To this end, OIDE serves to lead university-wide compliance with Stony Brook policy and state and federal laws that prohibit all forms of discriminatory behavior. Some of our efforts are outlined below:
Equity creates an environment of excellence in which all individuals can participate to the
full extent of their capabilities, realize their aspirations and best contribute to
the standard of excellence that Stony Brook strives to represent. OIDE’s efforts to
investigate allegations of discrimination, and providing training and oversight of
the recruitment process furthers this important principle. For more information or
to file a report please click http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/oea-equity
Diversity includes important concepts of human identity such as race, ethnicity, gender, gender
identity and expression, socio-economic status, nationality, citizenship, religion,
sexual orientation, ability and age, to name a few. OIDE is an advocate and resource
for diversity awareness. For more information please go to http://www.stonybrook.edu/oea-diversity
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits gender and/or sex-based discrimination, including
all forms of sexual misconduct, in educational institutions receiving federal funding.
OIDE serves to lead Stony Brook’s gender discrimination prevention efforts as well
as to investigate any allegations of gender discrimination and/or sexual misconduct,
including sexual harassment, sexual violence, stalking and domestic or dating violence.
For more information or to file a report please click http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/oea-titleix or contact titleix@stonybrook.edu.
ADA [the Americans with Disabilities Act] is a federal law that requires equal opportunity
for and prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas
of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation and all public and private
places that are open to the general public. OIDE oversees Stony Brook’s Disability
Accommodation Process and investigates any allegations of discrimination. For more
information on requesting an accommodation or to file a report please click http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/oea-accessibility
ADA Accommodation Process
Marjolie Leonard, Senior Director, OIDE serves the Stony Brook community as ADA Coordinator, overseeing our Stony Brook’s efforts for accessibility and disability accommodation.
DSS continues to serve student accommodation needs as they have in the past. Please contact dss@stsonybrook.edu or go to www.stonybrook.edu/dss.
Any employee who believes they need an accommodation to should go to their applicable HR Department, or if they chose, their supervisor. Please note that requesting an accommodation through your supervisor is entirely optional – for the employee’s convenience. If you do not wish to discuss your situation with our supervisor, please contact HR directly. Be aware that many accommodation requests require Stony Brook to obtain information from your doctor or another medical professional you see.
HR contacts for accommodation requests are as follows:
- West Campus, HSC, Southampton: Paulene Toissant (hrs_benefits@stonybrook.edu)
- Stony Brook Medicine: Tami Goldberg (tami.goldberg@stonybrook.edu)
- Long Island State Veterans Home: Denise Muscarella (lisvhhr@stonybrook.edu)
Forms, instructions, and other information, including complete contact information is available on OIDE’s website at www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/oea-accessibility
Reporting Discrimination - Why it is important?
Stony Brook University wants to provide an environment that is welcoming, safe and accessible for our entire campus community. This means working toward a campus environment that is free of discrimination. Education and outreach are essential to reducing discrimination, but so is the prompt and fair investigation of discriminatory incidents. Therefore, if you think you have seen, or heard about or if you think you have been a victim of discrimination, we want to hear from you.
Discrimination comes in many forms – and prevention of discrimination it isn’t about protecting one group from or over another – it is protecting about everyone. OIDE addresses any protected class discrimination – including discrimination on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, familial status, genetic predisposition, criminal convictions, domestic violence victim status, and veteran or military status (we know – it’s a mouthful!) -- as well as other protected classes under federal or state laws.
If you feel that you have been a victim of any type of discrimination or discriminatory harassment, including sexual misconduct, do not hesitate to contact us to file a complaint or to ask for more information. To report please send an email to oide@stonybrook.edu, go to https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/oea-equity/reporting to download and complete our complaint booklet or call (631) 632-6280.
Student's Bill of Rights
Students' Rights in Case of Sexual & Interpersonal Violence
Under NYS law Students have the right:
- To report to the police;
- To have Stony Brook take your report seriously;
- Not to be pressured by Stony Brook to report or participate in any investigation or process;
- For Stony Brook's process to be fair, impartial and to provide an opportunity to be heard;
- To be treated with dignity and to receive from Stony Brook courteous, fair and respectful healthcare and counseling services;
- To report free from the suggestion that you should have acted differently or that you are at fault;
- Not to be required to unnecessarily repeat your account of the incident;
- To be protected from retaliation;
- To have access to at least one level of an appeal of determination;
- To be accompanied by an advisor during all meetings and hearings;
- To exercise civil rights and practice your religion without interference by Stony Brook's process.
Haven: Understanding Sexual Assault
Stony Brook implemented an on-line training program, Haven: Understanding Sexual Assault in for students in 2015 and in 2016 for faculty and staff. This program has been very successful in providing the campus community with important information on prevention and awareness and providing participants with useful oncampus resources and information on relevant Stony Brook policies and procedures. Haven should empower you to make well-informed decisions about issues.
New students (Undergraduate, Graduate, Freshman, Transfer and International) are required to take Haven.
Student Athletes, office holders in student organizations and Greek-like students are required to take Haven Plus, a review of the full Haven course, and will be contacted via email later this fall. All students are welcome to sign in and take the Haven Plus refresher course.
New Employees are required to take Haven for Faculty and Staff as part of their New Employee Orientation. The training is available to all Stony Brook University staff.
Please go to http://www.stonybrook.edu/haven to log in with your NetID and password and get started!
Required Reporting: Responsible Employees
Recently Stony Brook updated University Policy P106 – which prohibits sexual harassment and other forms of gender discrimination to include required reporting for certain types of employees, call Responsible Employees. P 106 defines a Responsible Employee as “any employee who has the authority to take action to redress sexual violence; who has been given the duty of reporting incidents of sexual violence or any other misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator or other appropriate school designee; or whom a community member could reasonably believe has this authority or duty. The following are considered Responsible Employees and have reporting obligations:
- Senior Administrators (Directors and above and in the hospital, Nurse Managers and above)
- Chairs of Academic Department
- Ombudsmen
- Quad Directors
- Residence Hall Directors
- Athletics Coaching Staff
- University Recognized Sport Club Coaches
Responsible Employees are required to “immediately report all known, relevant details about a complaint of sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator.” Alleged behavior that must be reported includes sexual harassment, nonconsensual sexual contact, sexual violence or assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and retaliation toward anyone participating in an investigation of sexual misconduct.
You may review the entire P106: Sexual Misconduct and Reporting Policy at: https://www.stonybrook.edu/policy/policies.shtml?ID=106
An on-line training to better inform Responsible Employees of their role and responsibilities is available at http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/oea-titleix/responsible-employee. This training is required for all Responsible Employees, but is available to any staff member here at the university.
If you have any questions about whether you are a Responsible Employee, please feel free to contact OIDE at (631)632-6280.