Affirmative Action

Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (IDI)

The Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion supports the University’s compliance with the law of equal opportunity and affirmative action as it relates to race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability or veteran status. Michigan State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion oversees the University’s affirmative action program and it is the goal of our office to uphold equal opportunity in the hiring and recruitment of all qualified applicants and employees within the institution.

 

Affirmative Action

Executive Order (EO) 11246 issued in 1965 prohibits discrimination by federal contractors on the basis of race, color, national origin or religion. Subsequent EOs added handicap and age (1969), and sexual orientation (1998) to the definition of discrimination. Affirmative Action is a requirement imposed by Executive Order 11246 and its amendments. Under this executive order, federal contractors are prohibited from discriminating in the hiring, termination, promotion, pay etc. of employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender or national origin.

At the State level, on November 7, 2006, Michigan voters passed Proposal 2, an amendment to the State of Michigan Constitution that prohibits discrimination and granting of preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. However, the amendment included a clause “which does not prohibit actions that must be taken to establish or maintain eligibility for any federal program, if ineligibility would result in loss of federal funds to the state.”

MSU is the recipient of federal funds. As a federal contractor, the university is required to develop an affirmative action plan that includes good faith efforts to recruit and hire women, persons of color, veterans, and persons with disabilities. Departments and units are expected to seek a diverse pool of candidates for faculty and staff positions and to select the person who best meets departmental needs without regard to race and gender. The Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, working in consultation with the MSU Human Resources and Academic Human Resources, is responsible for the development and monitoring of MSU's Affirmative Action Program.

What is Affirmative Action? Affirmative action is a program required of federal contractors to ensure equal opportunity in employment. It involves the employer pursuing and ensuring equal opportunity for individuals and traditionally excluded groups in order to make the workplace more reflective of their availability in the workforce. Organizations employ affirmative action to engage in fair employment practices, and redress past inequities. Affirmative action is required by Executive Order 11246.

 What Affirmative Action is NOT:

Affirmative Action is not a quota system, reverse discrimination, or a system that rewards race or sex in place of merit. Affirmative Action is not about punishing anyone, but rather, about remedying discrimination.

Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (EOAA)

The Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion is responsible for preparing Michigan State University’s annual Affirmative Action Plan and for executing and monitoring the Equal Opportunity Policy. Michigan State University is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran status.

Affirmative Action Plan (AAP)

Each year, in accordance with federal regulations, the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion develops two (2) Affirmative Action Plans (AAPs). AAPs serve as a management tool and contain qualitative and quantitative aspects, providing a snapshot of Michigan State’s faculty, academic and support staff populations. These plans also include our policies and procedures that make certain we are providing equal employment opportunities to all.

The development of these Plans encourages self-evaluation with respect to every aspect of our employment processes, allowing us to discover any obstacles to equal opportunity that may exist at MSU. The Plans also serve as a guide, allowing us to monitor and examine employment decisions, processes and progress all of which aid in enhancing equal opportunity in all areas of employment at MSU.

Role of The IDI Office with respect to EOAA:

  • Develop and implement Michigan State University’s affirmative action program
  • Provide trainings to campus departments and units for searches
  • Develop workforce analysis for faculty, academic and support staff as directed by federal mandate

 




Hiring & Recruiting