Page 8 - Smith College Student Handbook 16-17
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Policies, Procedures & Guidelines
Smith College Equal Opportunities Policy
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The Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity
Smith’s Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity was created in 1996 with the belief that diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the
educational environment is necessary for achieving the highest level of academic excellence. We believe that when a community is rich with
varying perspectives, outlooks and values, the potential to prepare its members to deal more readily with complexity and to participate
productively in a pluralistic society is greatly increased.
The Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity includes Smith’s Chief Diversity Officer and its Title IX Coordinator and Institutional Equity
Administrator. The Chief Diversity Officer provides guides the development and administration of all diversity, inclusion, and equity-related
initiatives and programs.
OIDE Statement on Community Standards
From COMMON GROUND: COMMUNITY IN DIVERSITY AT SMITH COLLEGE: “Creating a community that is accepting
and respectful of all its members is not simply one of our goals; rather, the vision of such a community must be recognized as
central to every aspect of the priorities for the college, from curriculum to co-curriculum, associated with providing an excellent
education.”
Smith College fosters free access to knowledge, its unfettered discovery and communication through research and education, and the creation
and sustenance of a community of scholars, students, and staff. The Smith community can realize these goals only in an atmosphere of trust
and respect. The college aspires to create and maintain an educational, working, and living environment that is respectful of differences and
free from harassing behavior.
To foster trust and respect in a diverse community, Smith College encourages community members to behave in ways that affirm respect for
each other. Within an academic institution, teaching, doing research, and learning are subject to the protections of ‘academic freedom’ as
described in the college’s policy on academic freedom. Actions or words used in the context of the academic curriculum and teaching
environments that serve legitimate and reasonable educational purposes will not be evaluated as violating policies that bar certain behaviors,
sexual harassment, or unlawful discrimination.
In a diverse community, disagreements and conflicts of various degrees of seriousness are inevitable. The college strongly encourages
informal resolution of disputes and conflicts. Many issues are best resolved by direct communication between the individuals involved,
sometimes with the help of a third party. Community members are expected to engage in good faith attempts to mediate their differences. To
that end all members of the Smith community are encouraged to use student affairs staff members, human resources staff members, deans,
academic department chairs, the chaplains, supervisors, and the director of institutional diversity and equity to discuss concerns and seek
resolution to differences.
Notice of Non-Discrimination
Smith College is committed to maintaining a diverse community in an atmosphere of mutual respect and appreciation of differences.
Smith College does not discriminate in its educational and employment policies on the bases of race, color, creed, religion, national/ethnic
origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, or with regard to the bases outlined in the Veterans Readjustment Act and the Americans with Disabilities
Act.
Smith's admission policies and practices are guided by the same principle, concerning women applying to the undergraduate program and all
applicants to the graduate programs.
For more information, please contact the adviser for equity complaints, College Hall 302, (413) 585-2141, or visit www.smith.edu/diversity.
Smith College Equal Employment Opportunities Policy
Smith College is committed to creating an environment open to all individuals without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color,
national origin/ancestry, religion, sex or gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, genetic information, or
veteran status/membership in the uniformed services. The college affirms its commitment by holding all employees responsible for upholding
this principle and recognizing their legal obligations under applicable federal and state statutes.
Smith College employees carry out this commitment by:
1. Lawfully administering all employment policies;
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