State Mandated Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Supplemental Training

"Distribution List A" MEMORANDUM

SENT: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 1:52 PM

TO: All Faculty, Staff and Students Employed by Texas A&M University

FROM: Robert M. Gates, President

SUBJECT: State Mandated Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Supplemental Training

The University is committed to and supports a discrimination-free workplace. Such an environment also requires that all employees receive information on University policies designed to prevent sexual harassment. All University departments, therefore, have the responsibility to make certain that each of their employees receives training on these subjects.

There are three main reasons for providing this training to all employees:

Texas Labor Code 21.010 requires that all State employees receive mandatory Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) training within 30 days of employment. The Code further requires that each employee must complete supplemental EEO training every two years. A recent re-interpretation of the Code by the Civil Rights Division of the Texas Workforce Commission requires all employees, student employees, part-time employees, and seasonal or temporary workers to complete the training.

Additionally, we must ensure employees know University and System policies and procedures.

More importantly, we need to encourage and foster a workplace community where individuals are valued for their diverse backgrounds and differences.

To make this process easier to complete, the EEO supplemental training course, Creating a Discrimination Free Workplace, is available online. The course also includes instruction on the prevention of sexual harassment. The online training should be completed during normal working hours unless prior arrangements have been made with supervisors or department heads. Notification will be sent to each employee who must complete supplemental EEO training. Department heads and senior administrators may also receive monthly updates concerning the successful completion of this important training by members of their departments and colleges.

Information, login instructions, and links to specific State and University policies are available at the following website: http://employees.tamu.edu/employees/training/online/eeo/

Student employees may access the training at http://financialaid.tamu.edu/EmployeeTraining. All currently employed students must complete this training. Further, new student employees will be required to complete the New Student Employee Orientation before hire (current process) and the Creating a Discrimination Free Workplace module upon hire.

I appreciate your support and leadership to ensure the compliance of Texas A&M University with the tenants of this important legislation.

Robert M. Gates
President
Texas A&M University