The Center for Human Rights (CHR) seeks to integrate principles of equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, fairness and equality into all academic and employment activities and practices throughout Washington State University (WSU). To meet that objective, CHR (1) enhances the human rights education of all WSU students, faculty and staff, and by developing innovative and interdisciplinary programs, trainings and activities; (2) seeks to ensure all WSU employment and recruitment practices comply with state and federal equal employment opportunity and affirmative action mandates; (3) assesses, develops and implements WSU’s affirmative action plan in compliance with state and federal regulations; (4) reviews and investigates all complaints of discrimination and sexual harassment, and advises faculty, staff and students on appropriate management of such issues; and (5) aims to enhance WSU’s academic and organizational effectiveness through proactive assessment of workplace and classroom climate issues, development and implementation of action plans, and climate monitoring. CHR works closely with professionals in the fields of law, human resources, and conflict resolution to address individual and university concerns, and acts as an information resource for state and federal agencies.

The Center for Human Rights is Responsible for:

I. Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) Compliance.

Recruitment, Hiring and Outreach.

• Training search committee members in the proper application of EEO/AA laws and regulations, and WSU  recruitment procedure.

• Monitoring the recruitment, hiring and other employment actions of faculty for EEO/AA compliance.

• Training and coordinating a University team of EEO Representatives from each college and administrative unit to assist search committees with EEO/AA issues.

• Promoting the establishment of fair and objective criteria for evaluating candidates.

• Updating WSU administration on progress made toward achieving affirmative action and equal employment opportunity goals.

State and Federal Compliance.

• Developing WSU’s annual affirmative action plan.  

• Preparing EEO reports and maintaining applicant flow data collected from
  recruitment searches.

• Auditing WSU environment for posters, materials, and activities that violate WSU's discrimination and sexual harassment policy.

• Interfacing with state and federal government agencies regarding compliance, audits, and reporting.

II. Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Complaint Investigation.

• Reviews and investigates complaints of all forms of alleged illegal discrimination, and sexual harassment such as discrimination on the basis of race/ethnicity, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical, mental or sensory disability, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal and status as a disabled veteran or a Vietnam-era veteran.

• Advises deans, department chairs, supervisors and managers on the appropriate management of such discrimination and sexual harassment issues.

III. Training and Education

• Developing and implementing educational programs for WSU on issues regarding equal opportunity, affirmative action, sexual harassment, and complaint investigation.