Committed to Equity
George Mason University reaffirms its commitment to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, and issues the following statement:
To be considered a world-class institution, Mason must (accompanied by many other things) be broadly diverse in its makeup. Specifically, and as set forth in the university’s Strategic Plan, the university strives to “create an inclusive and diverse academic community that reflects the diversity of the National Capital Region." We strongly believe that diversity enriches the educational and scholarly environment by bringing varied interests, perspectives and experiences to the learning, teaching, research and creative activities that make up our core mission.
To encourage such diversity and inclusion, we prohibit discrimination and harassment and provide equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment, regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, or any other trait or status protected by applicable law. These applicable laws consist of, but are not limited to Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; the Equal Pay Act; the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974; Federal Executive Order 11246; Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA); and Virginia's State Executive Order Number Two. Further, it is the university’s policy that there shall be no retaliation against those who raise issues of discrimination or potential discrimination, or who participate in an investigation of such issues.
The university does not sacrifice job-related standards when it engages in affirmative action. The best-qualified person for a given position must always be hired; that is the essence of equal opportunity. The university’s affirmative action and diversity efforts simply ask that we cast a wider net to broaden competition, and to develop innovative personnel management strategies for groups that have been historically underrepresented in certain roles within our society.
The President and Provost have delegated certain key responsibilities for the implementation of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action programs and practices to the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Any questions or concerns regarding protections against discrimination as listed above, disability related accommodation matters, or best practices for hiring should be directed to the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Effective action requires personal involvement and commitment from all members of Mason’s learning community. In particular, academic administrators, supervisors and managers must individually invest time to accomplish our institutional objectives. While it is true that we are moving in the right direction, there are still areas that require immediate attention, such as the distribution of minorities and women among the ranks of the professoriate and senior administrative positions, and the low representation in certain availability pools of women, minorities and others who would bring diversity to this academic community.
George Mason University therefore reaffirms its commitment to diversity and affirmative action, as well as to equal opportunity. Our educational and scholarly purposes will be served best if the regional and national diversity population establishes a presence on campus, and we are able to reflect the full range and capacity of this society.
Learn more about Mason's Non-Discrimination Policy.
For more information or to report an incident, contact:
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Fairfax Campus
Aquia Building, Room 373
Phone: 703-993-8730