Equal Opportunity Office
The Equal Opportunity Office carries out federal and state equal opportunity regulations and university policy by managing the University’s affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts and promoting structural and interpersonal solutions to conflict prevention and resolution.
Welcome to Western's Equal Opportunity Office
It is Western’s duty to advance an exceptional and representative workforce. The Equal Opportunity Office recognizes each person’s individuality as their greatest asset in an inclusive campus community and strives to elevate Western as model for supporting and empowering diverse professionals.
Our Services
Discrimination Complaint Management
The Equal Opportunity Office receives, processes, investigates, and reports on employment-related complaints under Western’s Equal Employment Opportunity and Anti-discrimination Policies, attempting to resolve issues at the lowest possible level. The University prohibits and will not tolerate any action that violates federal, state, or local law or this Policy.
We know that filing a complaint can be stressful; we are here to support you. If you are unsure whether your complaint constitutes discrimination or retaliation or how best to proceed, we can discuss your concerns.is discrimination or retaliation or how best to proceed, we are available to talk about it. Please see the Consultation section below and feel free to visit the Center for Civil Rights or email CivilrightsEEOAA@Western.edu with any questions. Please see the Law and Policy section for more information on these policies.
We know that filing a complaint can be stressful; we are here to support you through the proces. If you are unsure whether your complaint is discrimination or retaliation or how best to proceed, we are available to talk about your concerns. Please see the Consultation section below and feel free to visit the Center for Civil Rights or email CivilrightsEEOAA@Western.edu with any questions.
If you would like to submit a complaint of discrimination or retaliation in the workplace, you can use the link below or submit a handwritten to the Equal Opportunity Office.
Submit a Notice of DiscriminationThe Equal Opportunity Office offers informed, impartial, and empathic counsel to help resolve conflicts and disagreements. It will hold your concerns in confidence, except in the event of risk of harm or as required by law.
We can identify institutional trends and bring attention to any policies or aspects of Western’s culture that need to be addressed. We value you as an important stakeholder and partner in this work.
Please visit the Center for Civil Rights or email us at CivilrightsEEOAA@Western.edu to set up a meeting.
Informal and Formal Conflict Resolution
For complaints that involve violations of Western’s policies, such as the Professional Conduct Policy, contact Western’s Director of Human Resources who manages informal and formal resolutions. The Equal Opportunity Office and the Human Resources Office are available to discuss various options and resources for addressing your concerns. Please see the Law and Policy section for more information on these policies.
The Department of Human Resources is located in Taylor Hall 321-C or by email at hr@western.edu.
If you would like to submit a complaint of unprofessional conduct or other policy violations, you can use the link below, or you can submit a handwritten grievance to the Human Resources Office.
The Equal Opportunity Office coordinates employee training sessions and workshops.
Please check back soon for an opportunity to sign up for the following professional development opportunities offered to individuals and departments.
Law and Policy
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.
The EEOC enforces these federal laws prohibiting workplace discrimination. In addition to those enforced by the EEOC, these federal laws prohibit discrimination and regulate workplace issues.
The Equal Opportunity Office enforces Western’s Equal Employment Opportunity Policy found in Section 1.01 of the Handbook for Professional Personnel.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and the Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation policy can be found in Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of the Trustee Policy Manual.
In addressing and resolving workplace conflict, the Equal Opportunity Office references Section 2.02 of the Handbook for Professional Personnel, which outlines what constitutes “Professional Conduct” at Western.
Our Team
Meet Marita Whalen
Marita Miller Whalen has been passionate about equity and access from a young age, pushing her to unique early-life experiences such as medical missions, adaptive ski instruction, volunteer work with Court Appointed Special Advocates, and Peace Corps service in West Africa. Marita has always been committed to public service and interested in interpersonal and structural solutions to systemic injustices.
Marita started her career as a teacher, empowering students with diverse backgrounds and abilities to build authentic connections and access educational opportunities. She acted as a grievance officer and negotiator, participated in multiple policy fellowships and workgroups, and served as department chair among other leadership roles.
Marita observed that many educators and administrators are not equipped for the racial, linguistic, cultural, socio-economic, gender, and neuro- diversity they encounter, and this is a primary reason that educational inequities persist today. Marita also saw many teachers buckle under the stress of the profession, with a disproportionate impact on the highest-need students. She came to understand that these experiences were the result of systemic failings in diversity, equity, and inclusion; she began advocating for policies that supported DEIJ+ in educational environments and for the fair treatment of diverse professionals under such policies.
Marita aims to establish and maintain trust in Western’s complaint processes, provide empathetic and objective counsel, and take a restorative approach to conflict resolution. She believes it is the duty of the institution to guarantee a culture of fairness and inclusivity so that faculty and staff feel supported in creating equitable and meaningful experiences for students. Marita is interested in discussing and modeling culturally responsive strategies with Western’s faculty and staff; she believes that on-going diversity training is necessary for all personnel — not only to promote legal and ethical conduct on campus, but also to ensure that Western fulfills its primary responsibility of inspiring and elevating all students in meaningful ways.
Assessment
Please check back at a later time to view the Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action Office’s ‘Year in Review.’
The Affirmative Action Plan is available for review in the Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action Office by employees and applicants upon request. Please contact CivilrightsEEOAA@Western.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action Office
Campus Location
Library 122A
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