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
- October,
2000, Volume 1, #1
Introduction
Welcome to the inaugural issue of Equal_Op -- the newsletter of
the Office for Equal Opportunity. We hope the newsletter will provide
you with interesting information about equal opportunity efforts
at the University as well as major trends and other newsworthy
items from a broader perspective.
Most importantly,
the newsletter is part of our "good faith
effort" to ensure that faculty, staff, and students are cognizant
of their rights and responsibilities as members of a diverse and
dynamic university community.
We invite you to share the newsletter with your fellow colleagues
and co-workers. We also urge you to contact the Equal_Op editor,
Beverly Jones Williams by
email or at 919-513-3836 with comments
about the newsletter.
Remember
-- equal opportunity protects and benefits everyone!
Diversity
Update In an effort to bring more gravitas to the discourse about diversity
at NC State, a new position has been created. Equal_Op is pleased
to welcome as a colleague Dr. Rupert Nacoste, Vice Provost for
Diversity and African American Affairs. NC State professor of Psychology
and distinguished Alumni Undergraduate Professor, Dr. Nacoste began
his tenure as Vice Provost on September 1. Dr. Nacoste brings to
his new administrative position a wealth of experience and scholarship.
He has authored numerous articles about the social psychology of
affirmative action and diversity. We look forward to Dr. Nacoste's
leadership in the area of diversity.
Also joining the Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity and
African American Affairs is Ms. Eureka Daye. Ms. Daye is the new
Coordinator of Diversity Programs at NC State. She came to the
University in May, 2000 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
where she was Director of Equity and Diversity. A Psychologist
by training, Ms. Daye has immersed herself in the NC State community,
offers a variety of workshops, and consults with departments on
promoting and valuing diversity.
The
African American Cultural Center is now housed administratively
under the new Vice Provost for Diversity and African American Affairs.
Focus:
Disability Services for Students In 1985, due
to NC State’s commitment to equality of opportunity
within its community, the Office of Disability Services for Students
was created to provide assistance to all students having physical,
psychological, learning, chronic, and temporary disabilities. Disability
Services for Students joined the Office for Equal Opportunity in
May of 1999. From 1985 to June, 2000, DSS was lead by Patricia
Smith. Ms. Smith sought to enhance each student’s educational
and social experiences on campus. After Ms. Smith left the University
to spend more time with her family, it became the task of the new
director, Cheryl Branker, to continue the mission of DSS.
The mission
of DSS is "to offer quality services that provide
effective reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities
in an effort to enhance their academic success and quality of campus
life." The office has the responsibility and challenge of
coordinating services and accommodations to ensure accessibility
and usability of all programs, services, and activities of the
University by students with disabilities.
Staff
Spotlight: The Staff of Disability Services for Students Meet Cheryl Royster Branker
Cheryl Royster Branker is the new Director of DSS. Dr. Branker,
named Director on July 1, is a Raleigh native. She completed a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama/Speech with a Concentration in
Speech Pathology and Audiology from UNC-G. She then obtained a
Master of Arts degree in Communication Sciences from the City University
of New York-Queens College. NC State University awarded her a Doctorate
in Adult and Community College Education with an emphasis in Higher
Education Administration in 1997.
Dr. Branker has held the following positions: Head of the Speech
Therapy Department at Hillhaven Sunnybrook Convalescent Center,
Speech/Language Pathologist with Wake County Public Schools, and
Clinical Supervisor of the Speech, Hearing, and Language Clinic
in the Department of Communication at NC State University, as well
as lecturer for the Clinical Observation and Practicum classes.
She became Assistant Head of the Department of Communication in
July 1998.
Meet Cindy Hall
As of September 1, 2000, Cindy Hall became the first Administrative
Assistant in DSS. Her primary responsibilities will be to coordinate
the administrative functions of the office and to serve as the
budget manager. Ms. Hall comes to DSS after having worked in the
D. H. Hill Library for 15 years with Photocopy Services and most
recently as Unit Head in Reprographic Services.
Meet Thomas Martin
A native of Raleigh, North Carolina and a graduate of the English
Department at NC State, Thomas Martin has recently returned to
DSS after a stint in the office of Communication Technologies.
He began working at DSS as a temporary employee in April and has
returned on a temporary basis to fill the role of Program Assistant.
Mr. Martin coordinates the preparation of materials in alternate
formats, oversees the scheduling of interpreters and loaning of
equipment, and also maintains the exam and appointment schedules.
Meet Lee Woodburn
Lee Woodburn started in our office on August 2, 2000 as our new
Assistant Director, working with students that have learning disabilities
and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Ms. Woodburn was
born in Richmond, Virginia and moved to Clemson, South Carolina
at the age of 12. She attended Northwestern University, where she
obtained a B.S. in Communication Studies. After working in the
financial industry for a year, she returned to school to pursue
a graduate degree from the University of Georgia. She achieved
a Master of Education in Educational Psychology in 1996 and Specialist
in Education in School Psychology in 1997. Ms. Woodburn worked
for the Johnston County Schools as a school psychologist from 1996
until June of 2000. She worked with students in kindergarten through
twelfth grade who had AD/HD, learning disabilities, and behavioral-emotional,
physical, and psychological disabilities.
Meet Sabina Vermeulen
Born and raised in Queens, New York, Sabina Vermeulen received
a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Psychology from the College
of Mount Saint Vincent and a Master of Science degree in Education-Rehabilitation
Counseling from Hunter College, City University of New York. She
is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). Ms. Vermeulen has
been working in DSS since August, 1999. In addition, she has over
14 years of professional experience in the field of Rehabilitation.
Her prior employment includes:
- Rehabilitation
Counselor with DSB/Wake County Schools Transition Program,
NC Division of Services for the Blind, NC Vocational Rehabilitation
Services, and State University of New York at Albany;
- Social
Caseworker at the Kennedy Child Study Center;
- Administrative
positions: Coordinator of Rehabilitation Services at State
University of New York at Albany and Director
of Rehabilitation and Raleigh
Branch Manager at Goodwill Industries, RTP.
Meet Leigh Millar Bhe
Leigh Millar Bhe is a native of Chapel Hill, North Carolina and
graduated in 1990 with a degree in Political Science and Spanish
from Guilford College in Greensboro. In college, she was able to
work in residential life and decided to pursue that career upon
graduation. She worked for two years at Salem Academy. After leaving
Salem, she then moved on to the North Carolina School of Science
and Mathematics in Durham and worked there for three years. Ms.
Bhe returned to school and received a Master of Education from
the Department of Counselor Education at NC State. Her concentration
was in College Student Development, and she worked with student-athletes
during her tenure in graduate school. She has been an Assistant
Director in Disability Services for Students since October of 1998.
She works with students with learning disabilities and/or attention
deficit disorder.
Meet Terry Thompson
Terry
Thompson is the Coordinator of Assistive and Information Technology
at NC State. He comes to NC State with a Bachelor's
degree in psychology from Purdue University and graduate study
in special education from the University of Kansas. His professional
experience includes participation in a multinational psychology
research project through the Menninger Foundation in Topeka, Kansas
and employment as a market research analyst for the Kansas City-based
Business Technology Association. He accepted the joint position
with DSS and Information Technology in May, 2000 following six
years as coordinator of the Computing Learning Center, a not-for-profit
organization in Lawrence, Kansas that provides grant-supported
computer training to persons with disabilities. Mr. Thompson has
served as consultant to several colleges and universities and for
the state of Kansas in the areas of assistive technology and accessible
web design.
Programming Notes: Upcoming
programs Henry Holden to Speak
To celebrate
the 10th anniversary of the passing of the ADA, the Office of
Disability Services for Students, in conjunction with
the Department of Communication and the Office of the Dean of the
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, will sponsor an event
featuring Henry Holden on Wednesday, October 25, 2000 from 3:00 – 4:30
pm in the Cinema located in the Witherspoon Student Center. Mr.
Holden will present "The Misconceptions Continue: How the
Media Represent People with Disabilities." The lecture will
be followed by a panel discussion lead by faculty from the Department
of Communication.
Mr. Holden contracted polio at the age of four, during the 1952
national Polio epidemic, but wearing braces and crutches has never
stopped him from pursuing his dream of acting. He has appeared
on the TV shows AFTERmash, T.J. Hooker, Hill
Street Blues, and
Knots Landing.
Mr. Holden speaks at college campuses across the country. His
lecture is not only dynamic in content but his delivery evokes
humble laughter. He is helping audiences understand the misconceptions
of persons with disabilities, and at the same time, helping to
reshape misperceptions portrayed by the mass media.
Protected Class Series
The purpose of the Protected Class Series is to provide more information
to the campus community regarding the ten protected classes that
are included in the University's policies and procedures. Eight
of the ten protected classes are each covered in a separate program.
In two instances, two of the protected classes have been combined
into one program because the subject material is closely related.
An individual affiliated with NC State and considered to be very
knowledgeable about the subject matter facilitates each program.
All of the
workshops are open to all NC State students and employees. You
may attend one, more than one, or all of them. There is no
cost for attending any of the courses. Note: Seating is limited.
Participants in the Equal Opportunity Institute have first priority.
For more information, please see our Training & Educational
Opportunities page.
Equal Opportunity Video Series
This collection of videos provides in-depth material on a variety
of equal opportunity issues. A facilitator who will lead the participants
in structured discussion presents each video.
All of the videos are open to all NC State students and employees.
You may attend one, more than one or all of them. Note: Seating
is limited. Participants in the Equal Opportunity Institute have
first priority.
Diversity Months
- September
is Hispanic Heritage Month.
- October
is National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
- November
is National American Indian Heritage Month.
Celebrate
these months by seeking opportunities to learn more about these
cultures and areas of interest.
Introducing...
"Hire the Best: Steps to Successful EPA Recruitment at NC State
University" OEO
provides training for EPA search committees on the mechanical
intricacies of conducting a legal employment search. The orientation
also includes instruction on which types of questions are illegal
to ask candidates, particularly those that might be discriminatory.
To make this training easily available on a large scale, a video
presentation has been developed with the assistance of NC State's
Creative Services. Using humorous skits and detailed information,
this video presents the material in a way that is fun to learn
and easy to follow. Please call the Office for Equal Opportunity
at 919-515-3148 to schedule an orientation before your next committee
meeting!
Happy
Birthday, ADA The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) celebrated its 10th
anniversary on July 26, 2000. The ADA is an equal opportunity law
that prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities,
estimated at about 54 million Americans. With the passage of the
ADA, efforts have been made nationally to both identify and remove
barriers of opportunity in areas such as employment, public services,
public accommodations, and telecommunications. The ADA recognizes
and enforces the rights of persons with disabilities to benefits,
services, and opportunities afforded to others in our society.
In
addition to the 10th anniversary, October is National Disability
Employment Awareness Month. This is a month set aside to promote
employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. In a time
when the demand for qualified workers is at a high point, the pool
of qualified workers with disabilities who
are unemployed is also substantially high. According
to the National Organization on Disability, approximately 70 percent
of persons with disabilities who are of legal working age are unemployed.
Tapping this valuable resource of workers will be a tremendous
benefit to the workforce in our state and country.
Mediation!!! We are pleased
to announce that the University now offers free mediation services
for all employees and students. Mediation is
a process where a neutral third party assists conflicting parties
in a process to discuss their issues and work towards an agreement.
Benefits of mediation include a less adversarial method of resolution
than traditional grievance procedures, and no one having to be
judged as "wrong." The program currently has 15 trained
mediators to assist with requests. If you are experiencing a conflict,
why not call us for assistance? Contact OEO, Galen Jones, or the
Chair of the Faculty Senate for information.
New
Website Focuses on Accessibility NC State recently
unveiled its new Accessible
Web Design website. The site’s
purpose is to assist faculty and staff in developing web pages
that are accessible to persons with disabilities. The
site features an overview of accessible web design, discusses legal
requirements for developing accessible online content, and provides
specific practical examples of how to improve the accessibility
of common web features. The site is an important resource for all
faculty and staff who are delivering, or planning to deliver, information
on the web.
Interesting
Websites
- The
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces
the principal federal statutes prohibiting employment discrimination.
For more information, see www.eeoc.gov.
If
you know of interesting websites related to equal opportunity
and equity, please send them to Beverly
Williams.
Reminders
- The "Equal
Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer" (EO/AA
Employer) tag line is required on ALL employment advertisements
and postings!
- Requests
for reasonable accommodations under the ADA should be responded
to as expediently as possible.
- Meetings,
workshops, seminars, and events should be scheduled in accessible
locations.
- Taglines
should be included on advertisements directing persons in
need of accommodations to contact a staff person by a specific
date to make a request.
- Written
communications, i.e., brochures, pamphlets, flyers, and booklets
should be available upon request in alternate formats
(Braille, large print, audio, etc). A tagline printed
on the materials must be included stating the availability
of the materials in alternate
formats.
- Ensure
that all web sites are accessible to persons with disabilities.
See Accessible
Web Design for more information
If you have questions or comments regarding this newsletter, please
contact Beverly Jones Williams at 919-513-3836 or by
email. |
