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The Office of Equity and Civil Rights (ECR) works to promote a respectful, accessible and inclusive environment to all students, staff, and community within the CT State Community College, Charter Oak State College and CSCU System.

Connecticut State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race; color; religious creed; age; gender; gender identity or expression; national origin; marital status; ancestry; present or past history of intellectual disability, learning disability or physical disability; veteran status; sexual orientation; genetic information or criminal record.

The following person has been designated to respond to inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Dr. John-Paul Chaisson-Cardenas, CT State Title IX Coordinator, Connecticut State Community College, 185 Main Street, New Britain, CT 06051.

Connecticut State Community College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans.

Ensure Equal Opportunity and Access for Students, Staff, and the Community

  • Monitor college/campus compliance with relevant CSCU policies and all state and federal EEO/AA/Civil Rights laws including, but not limited to, Title VII, Title IX, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
  • Provide direction and guidance on search compliance and diversity recruitment efforts
  • Provide career counseling for employees seeking career mobility
  • Develop Affirmative Action plans and programs in accordance with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) AA Regulations
  • Provide reasonable accommodations for employees or job applicants in accordance with the ADA
  • Conduct and coordinate state-mandated training (Diversity, Sexual Harassment, Title IX and ADA)

Investigate Discriminatory Conduct

  • Investigate allegations of discrimination and sexual harassment and make recommendations for resolution in collaboration with the Labor Relations COE
  • Facilitate informal resolution/mediation of complaints

Equity Reviews

An equity review is an evaluative process that assesses the status, effectiveness, and progress of CT State units or programs from a DEI lens. There are two types of equity reviews:

  1. Participatory Equity Study: This kind of participatory action evaluation process is designed to support CT State units and programs in their equity and inclusion efforts or when a unit or program is experiencing inclusion or equity challenges. This process usually starts with a data review related to the presenting goal and ends with a written report to the unit or program and its senior vertical leader(s).
  2. Equity or Compliance Review: This compulsory process can only be triggered by the CT State President or VP of DEI. This type of review is designed to assess and address systemic compliance, climate, inclusion, equity, and civil rights issues. This type of review usually requires that the unit or program develop an affirmative plan to remedy any or all findings. Remedial plans are then monitored by the DEI Office.

There are three main reasons why we conduct equity reviews at CT State:

  1. To fulfill our CT State Mission: CT State Community College (CT State) provides access to academically rigorous and innovative educationand training focused on student success. The college supports excellence in teaching and learning, makes data-informed decisions, promotes equity, and advances positive change for the students, communities, and industries it serves.
  2. To fulfill our equity commitment: CT State commits to bold and disruptive change by actively identifying, naming, and dismantling structural racism, systemic poverty, and other barriers, establishing equitable and anti-racist policies and practices, and empowering students, faculty, staff, and administrators to advance racial, social, and economic justice. Our core collective responsibility is to continuously assess practices and policies and transform the world we live in by eliminating inequities.
  3. To ensure civil rights compliance throughout the college.

What can prompt an equity study or compliance review?

**Please note that the DEI Office will first offer units or programs the opportunity to engage in a participatory equity review process. This is because we believe that positive active engagement by staff, faculty, and administrators yields better plans and recommendations than compulsory processes.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Policy and Strategy Development

  • Participate in developing and enforcing workplace policies and procedures to ensure compliance with laws and regulations regarding all protected classes
  • Work with established civil rights compliance committees
  • Work with all departments in efforts to promote diversity, inclusion and equity
  • Participate in developing and enforcing workplace policies and procedures to ensure compliance with laws and regulations regarding all protected classes
  • Work to establish a Diversity & Inclusion Committee that represents staff from all 12 CC, Charter Oak State College and CSCU System
  • Work with all of the Centers of Excellence in efforts to promote diversity, inclusion and equity