Office for Equal Opportunity
North Carolina
State University

Location & Hours
1 Holladay Hall
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Monday - Friday

Mailing Address
Campus Box 7530
Raleigh, NC
27695-7530

Phone Numbers
Main: 919-515-3148
Fax: 919-513-1428
TTY: 919-515-9617

Equal_Op - February, 2006 - Volume 6, #3

The Protected Class of Veteran’s Status

Veteran’s status is one of the ten protected classes at NC State University. Sometimes referred to as a “vet,” a veteran is someone who has served in the Armed Forces of the United States. Veteran’s status is sometimes based on the length and location of military service. For example, there are “Vietnam era veterans,” or people 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 were discharged or released with other than a dishonorable discharge. Since veteran’s status is a protected class, employers are prohibited from discrimination based on a person’s status as a veteran.

There are both federal and state laws outlining the protections offered to men and women who are veterans. North Carolina law requires that employment preference be given for having served in the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty, for reasons other than training, during periods of war or any other campaign, expedition, or engagement for which a campaign badge or medal is authorized by the United States Department of Defense. The preference accorded eligible, qualified veterans applies in initial selection and reduction-in-force situations only.

As a federal contractor, NC State is required to engage in affirmative action in employment for veterans. This means that the University must take affirmative steps to employ qualified Vietnam era, special disabled, recently separated, and other protected veterans.

NC State has many employees and students who have benefited from educational benefits provided to veterans through the various “GI Bills.” While educational benefits for veterans date back to the beginning of the 20th century, the most famous GI Bill, the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944, was designed to provide greater opportunities to returning World War II veterans. The GI Bill provided federal aid to help veterans adjust to civilian life in the areas of hospitalization, purchase of new homes and businesses, and education.

Did you know? Census 2000 counted the number of veterans at 26,549,704, or 12.7% of the U.S. population. North Carolina is currently ranked ninth among states with large veteran populations.

You can find out more about NC State’s ten protected classes (mentioned in the article on page 1 of this newsletter) on our website at: www.ncsu.edu/equal_op/harassment/pro_class.html.

Ricky Lee of Disability Services Wins Award of Excellence

Ricky Lee, Assistant Director and Coordinator of Assistive Technology in the Disability Services Office (DSO), is the 2005 recipient of the Stephen E. Sallee Award of Excellence in the field of Assistive Technology (AT). The award was presented December 1st, at the 15th Annual Assistive Technology EXPO held at the North Raleigh Hilton. The EXPO is co-sponsored by the NC Assistive Technology Program - Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Partnerships in Assistive Technology, NC Office on Disability and Health, and the Friends of the NC Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

As the current Coordinator of AT, Ricky uses aggressive research to determine the most effective technology for access by students and and faculty with disabilities. His work has established NC State as a leader in Assistive Technology. It is because of his reputation that many community agencies and programs consult with him for information and assistance.

Here at NC State, Ricky set up a program to deploy equipment and software across the campus, including remote access, providing faculty and students with greater flexibility in accessing AT. Ricky collaborates with others resulting in new ways to provide access through technology. For example, he worked with the College of Design to create a 3D image for mathematical equations and graphs. Through Ricky’s in-depth knowledge and work with the Information Technology department, new and updated software is compatible with students' assistive technology software. He is creative and innovative in finding solutions to individual students' needs across curriculums. To quote one student "Ricky Lee helped me feel like a "normal" student in the classroom once again. My grades improved and I started participating in classroom discussions. I didn't have to depend on anyone else anymore. Ricky found a way to take a device often used in the business world, and turn it into assistive technology for the visually impaired."

Staff Spotlight: Steve Rausch of the Disability Services Office

Steve Rausch is the newest member of the DSO team, and is also the University’s first Alternate Format Specialist. Using state-of-the-art technology, and a bit of his own creative intuition, Steve produces compelling, powerful academic materials for persons with disabilities. Steve graduated from W.G. Enloe High School with honors in the spring of 2003, and began his undergraduate studies at NC State in the fall of the same year. He is a junior working towards an undergraduate degree in Spanish Language with an English and Business Minor. Steve’s plans for the future include moving to New York to pursue his dreams of acting, as well as earning a graduate degree in Public Relations.

The process of producing alternate format for students with disabilities must be an efficient and precise one. Students often do not know all of the courses they will be carrying in a given semester. Even when that information is known, the materials they will need are often not available until shortly before they are needed. Materials can need to be converted into a variety of formats. A few examples are: audio to text, text to audio, print to audio, print to e-books, visual to kinesthetic, print to Braille, and combinations of more than one format. The alternate format specialist must be knowledgeable of a variety of hardware and software, and, at the same time, understand the needs of the student. This means that the materials must be timely, accurately translated, and provided in manner and medium appropriate to the significance of the message and the abilities of the individual with the disability. Production of alternate format is an important function at NC State University, and the Disability Services Office is fortunate to have Steve Rausch working in this role.

Programming Notes

Upcoming OEO-Sponsored Programs

Did you know that every person at NC State University is protected by law as a member of a protected class?

Did you know that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission receives over 70,000 complaints annually?

Do you know how to effectively interrupt prejudicial comments? If not, you can learn more in these Spring programs offered through the Office for Equal Opportunity:

• Protected Class of National Origin
  Tuesday, February 7, 2006 (9:00am - 12:00pm)
  
  
• Protected Class of Veteran Status
  Tuesday, February 14, 2006 (9:00am - 12:00pm)
  
  
• Diversity in the Workplace: A Business Perspective
  Wednesday, February 15, 2006 (6:00pm - 9:00pm)
  
  
• Legacies + Layers = Lenses
  Wednesday, February 22, 2006 (9:00am - 12:00pm)
  
  
• Protected Class of Disability
  Tuesday, March 14, 2006 (1:00pm - 4:00pm)
  
  
• The EEOC
  Tuesday, March 21, 2006 (9:00am - 12:00pm)
  
  
• Affirmative Action in Action
  Wednesday, April 5, 2006 (9:00am - 12:00pm)
  
  
• Building Bridges: Strengthening Leadership for Diverse Communities
  Thursday, April 6, 2006 (9:00am - 4:30pm)
  
  
• Diversity, Discrimination, and Affirmative Action
  Tuesday, April 11, 2006 (9:00am - 12:00pm)
  
  
• The Protected Classes of Religion and Creed
  Wednesday, April 12, 2006 (9:00am - 12:00pm)
  
  
• EO Jeopardy
  Wednesday, April 19, 2006 (9:00am - 12:00pm)
  

To learn more about these programs and to register, visit www.ncsu.edu/equal_op/education.html.

OEO Receives IBM Grant

The Office for Equal Opportunity has enjoyed a positive relationship with IBM for more than four years. This relationship began with members of the IBM staff participating in the Equal Opportunity Institute (EOI) and has grown into a strong partnership.

Because of this relationship, the Office for Equal Opportunity has been awarded a grant from IBM for $1000. This Community Grant was the result of volunteer work completed by Michele Lanuti, Yolanda Outlaw, and Marcia Wright with NC State University. This includes the IBM facilitated program offered on campus titled “Diversity in the Workplace: A Business Perspective” and serving on the EOI advisory board.

The grant money will be used to sponsor the Sight, Sound and Motion workshop as a pilot for our campus community. Through this workshop we will raise the awareness of administrators, faculty, staff and students of the personal impact of design decisions on people with disabilities in the areas of facilities and classroom instruction. The Office for Equal Opportunity will work with the Center for Universal Design to sponsor the Sight, Sound and Motion workshop in 2006.

NC State’s Study Circles Program

The Office for Equal Opportunity sponsors “Study Circles on Race and Race Relations” for the NC State campus. The Study Circles program is part of a nationwide effort to address racism by providing a simple way to involve community members in dialogue and action. Study Circles on Race and Race Relations provides an opportunity for NC State students, faculty, staff, and administrators to improve the racial and ethnic climate of the campus through dialogue and action.

A study circle is a small, diverse group of 8 to 10 individuals who meet once a week for five weeks. Participants share individual stories, learn from others, and take actions steps to improve race relations. The intent is to get people listening to others, which can lead to greater understanding and joint efforts of action.

For more information or to sign up for an NC State Study Circle, go to www.ncsu.edu/equal_op/education/study_circles.html.

OEO Resource Directory

Office for Equal Opportunity (OEO)
1 Holladay Hall
Campus Box 7530
919-515-3148
www.ncsu.edu/equal_op

Disability Services Office (DSO)
1900 Student Health Center
Campus Box 7509
919-515-7653
www.ncsu.edu/dso

Disability Hotline
To report a disability or accommodation issue or concern, send email to ADAHotline@ncsu.edu.

Harassment Complaints
For help with a harassment concern, contact Dr. Rhonda Sutton at 919-513-1234 or rhonda_sutton@ncsu.edu. [Update as of 11/2006: For help with a harassment concern, contact Amy Circosta at 919-513-1234 or amy_circosta@ncsu.edu.] You can also submit a harassment complaint online at www.ncsu.edu/equal_op/harassment/
harassment_complaint_form.html, or send email to report_harassment@ncsu.edu.

Hiring Procedures & Search Committee Orientations
If you are beginning a new search for a position, OEO encourages you to call 919-515-3148 to schedule a search committee orientation.

Training & Workshops
For information about our workshops and course offerings, please see www.ncsu.edu/equal_op/education.html or contact Beverly Jones Williams at 919-513-3836.

Faculty Exit Interviews
If you are a departing faculty member, please contact Dr. Rhonda Sutton at 919-513-1234 to schedule your exit interview. [Update as of 2/2007: For your exit interview, please contact Carson C. Cook at 919-513-2099 or carson_cook@ncsu.edu.]

About Equal_Op
This newsletter is published by the Office for Equal Opportunity at NC State University. It is available online at www.ncsu.edu/equal_op/pubs.html and in alternate formats upon request.

If you have questions or comments regarding this newsletter, please contact the Office for Equal Opportunity at 919-515-3148 or by email.