North Central Self Study
Chapter 5: Criterion Three

The institution is accomplishing its education and other purposes.

Staff and Faculty Services That
Contribute to the Institution's Effectiveness

• Affirmative Action: UNK's Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Office (AAEO) opened in 1993. The Office oversees the implementation of hiring guidelines, responds to complaints of sexual harassment or discrimination, and enforces anti-discrimination policies in education and employment. The AAEO Office also provides training on the prevention of harassment and works with campus leaders to create a safe and respectful campus. Should any legal complaints issued by other governmental agencies, such as the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission, arise, the AAEO Office handles these issues as well.
   
  To implement its responsibilities, the AAEO Office established Hiring Guidelines in 1995. Last updated in May 2000, these guidelines ensure equal opportunity to all employment applicants. An Affirmative Action Commission was also formed to advise the Chancellor on relevant policies and procedures as well as to identify potential areas of concern. An Affirmative Action Plan, distributed each year to administrators since 1996, reports on the effectiveness of AAEO programs. Grievance Procedures for individual complaints have also been implemented and, in 2003, made very accessible with forms available on the AAEO website.
• Childcare: UNK's on-campus Child Development Center opened for operation as a licensed childcare facility in 2001. Children 6 weeks through 12 years of age participate in a quality program that not only meets their physical needs, but also allows them to develop emotionally, socially, and intellectually through stimulating activities in a nurturing environment. In 2002 the Center was licensed to care for 60 children while 63 children were enrolled on a full or part-time basis. At first a majority (2/3) of those enrolled were children of UNK students. This proportion has begun to change as more faculty and staff participate. In the 2003-2004 academic year, half of the enrollees are children of faculty and staff and half children of students. The Center will expand in January 2004 to include an additional room that will add 10 additional placements and greater flexibility in separating children into appropriate age and developmental levels.
• Dual Career Program: The Dual Career Program (http://www.unk.edu/offices/dcp) was created in 1998 in response to the difficulty the university was experiencing in recruiting and retaining qualified employees because of the relocation and career concerns of accompanying partners. The program is open to the relocating partners of faculty, administrators, and staff. The program provides up-to-date information about local businesses, networking opportunities, support during the job search, and résumé and cover letter assistance and review. A recent survey (Fleig-Palmer, Murrin, Palmer, Rathert, 2003) established that the program is comparable to the best programs in the nation. A paper about the program was presented at the Dual Career Conference, Iowa City, IA, (April, 2003.). The paper was entitled "Meeting the Needs of Dual-Career Couples in Academia" (by Fleig-Palmer, M. M., Murrin, J., Palmer, D. K., & Rathert, C.).
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Services: UNK affirmed its commitment to the Americans With Disabilities Act, passed by Congress in 1991, with the establishment of the Americans With Disabilities Act Committee (ADA Committee) in 1996. This Committee advises the Chancellor on ADA policies and practices, identifies areas of potential concern, and serves as a review panel for accommodation needs. Designed to encourage and support disability initiatives, these charges also protect individuals and the university community from the possible moral and legal repercussions of ADA violations.
   
  UNK has implemented many services to support ADA guidelines for students, employees and guests. In 1999, the University formally adopted policies that include procedures for requesting accommodations as well as for filing complaints. An ADA Orientation packet was designed and implemented in 2001 to assist and train UNK personnel. All directors, deans, department chairs and administrators received a packet with a PowerPoint presentation on diskette to use at their discretion. An ADA Statement, prepared in 2000, is required on all printed materials and a Campus Accessibility Map has also been issued.

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