Does Affirmative Action require search committees to give preference to individuals from underrepresented groups when making hiring decisions?
No, search committees should not give preferential treatment to individuals from underrepresented groups. Affirmative Action (AA) requires that all applicants be evaluated equally without regard to their protected class status. The heart of AA efforts involves aggressive outreach and recruitment efforts by search committees and hiring units. When making a hiring decision, the search committee must choose the best candidate based on his or her skills, experience, and education. Positive consideration may be given to individuals who have experience working with diverse populations and/or have life experiences that will support the university’s goal of preparing students to thrive in a diverse and global society. • What is the role of the Equal Opportunity Associate (EOA) in academic departments? The EOA serves as a liaison between EDC and the department, and assists search committees with achieving the AA/EEO objectives of the university. The EOA assists a department with a review of mar
