Reaffirmation of Commitment to Diversity/Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
Memorandum
To: The Graduate Center Campus Community
From: President Robin L. Garrell
Subject: Reaffirmation of Commitment to Diversity/Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
The City University of New York (CUNY) and the CUNY Graduate Center are dedicated to our historic mission: providing high quality education to all students, regardless of means or background. We stand for racial equity and resolve to address systemic racism in our community and our policies. The Graduate Center is committed to creating a community that is inclusive and equitable, supports the principles of affirmative action, and provides leadership in anti-racism.
Diversity within the University community advances the academic purposes of the University, and an affirmative action policy is essential to achieving such diversity. The University endorses the goals of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action as supportive of University values and of the values of a democratic and pluralistic society. As such, we are committed to recruit, employ, retain, promote, and provide benefits to employees regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, partnership status, disability, genetic information, alienage, citizenship, military or veteran status, unemployment status, pregnancy, or status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking, sex offenses, or any other legally prohibited basis in accordance with federal, state, and city laws. The University’s commitment further extends to all Graduate Center Italian American employees who are included among CUNY’s protected groups.
With our commitment to doctoral and master’s education for the public good, The Graduate Center has a vital role in fighting systemic racism locally and globally by advancing knowledge, and by creating paths for change through teaching, research, and public engagement.
The Graduate Center’s Compliance and Diversity Office, in collaboration with the Office of Human Resources, provides a central locus for implementing goals related to equal employment opportunity, contract compliance, affirmative action programming, and diversity and inclusion. I invite you to view CUNY’s Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy in its entirety, including the complaint procedures and prohibition against retaliation.
Members of our campus community who become aware of allegations of discrimination, retaliation, or sexual misconduct are encouraged to report the alleged behavior. I ask for your continued support to ensure the continuation of equal opportunity, affirmative action, and anti-racism practices at the Graduate Center.
The following administrators are responsible for implementing the Graduate Center’s Diversity/Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Program:
Interim Chief Diversity Officer
Edith Rivera (Room 7301.06, (212) 817-7417, erivera@gc.cuny.edu )
504/ADA Coordinator, Vice President for Student Affairs
Matthew Schoengood (Room 7301, (212) 817-7400, mschoengood@gc.cuny.edu)
Executive Director of Human Resources
David Boxill (Room 8403, (212) 817-7700, dboxill@gc.cuny.edu)
Director of Security and Public Safety
John Flaherty (Room 9117.01, (212) 817-7761, jflaherty@gc.cuny.edu)
Professor Loraine Obler is serving as the GC acting ombuds officer, offering a neutral place for all students and employees to discuss formal or informal approaches to employment or academic matters in strict confidence. You may reach her at room 8108, (212) 817-7191, ombuds@gc.cuny.edu.