Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action

The University of Florida strives to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all students, employees, partners, and visitors.

One facet of these efforts is facilitating the University’s equal opportunity and affirmative action program (see UF Regulation 1.0061). As a federal contractor, UF has certain legal obligations to ensure its hiring and employment practices are compliant. Many of these equal opportunity and affirmative action obligations are set by the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Program (often referred to as the OFCCP), state and federal law, and the University’s own regulations and policies.

One goal of the equal opportunity and affirmative action program is to assist in creating a learning and working environment that is not only free of discrimination and harassment, but also inclusive and welcoming so all individuals can perform their work or studies to their fullest potential.

To further these efforts, UF Human Resources engages its own departments, including Employee Relations, Talent Acquisition and Onboarding, Classification and Compensation, and Training and Organizational Development. UFHR also collaborates with various offices, departments and initiatives across the University, including:

• The Office of the Chief Diversity Officer
• The Office for Accessibility and Gender Equity
• The Student Disability Resource Center
• The UF Police Department – Victim Services
• Institutional Planning and Research

Protected Classes at the University of Florida

The University is bound by state and federal law on most matters relating to discrimination and harassment. However, UF has adopted its own regulations and standards outlining expectations for conduct that go above and beyond the minimum requirements of the law. For example, the UF Regulation identifying protected classes addresses those who may not be protected by applicable state and federal law.

Protected classes are generally described as groups of people who have historically faced discrimination and harassment. In a university context, the focus is typically on such treatment in employment and education settings. UF Regulation 1.006 expressly prohibits discrimination on the basis of: race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information and veteran status as protected under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.

Complaints or Concerns about Discriminatory or Harassing Behavior

All UF employees are expected to report misconduct, irrespective of whether they are the target of the misconduct or just a witness.

UFHR – Employee Relations addresses complaints related to discrimination (or retaliation for reporting such a concern).

If your concerns involve sexual harassment, sexual assault or any sexual misconduct (or retaliation for reporting such a concern), please contact the Office for Accessibility and Gender Equity.

If you are not sure whether your concern should be reviewed by Employee Relations or the Office for Accessibility and Gender Equity, simply contact either office. We regularly communicate and can determine which office is in the best position to assist you with your concern.

Additional Resources

Gators Together is a certificate program for individual employees and supervisors. This diversity and inclusion program is designed to increase performance and engagement by creating an inclusive environment for our diverse talents. View the program requirements.

Maintaining a Safe and Respectful Campus This training is designed to support UF’s vision of an academic and work environment free of discrimination. UF actively promotes equal opportunity policies and practices to prevent sexual discrimination and harassment. This commitment applies to all students and employees and reflects the University’s belief that education and employment decisions and access to University activities should be based on individuals’ abilities and qualifications and not on irrelevant factors, as well as that the University values broad diversity within our community and is committed to diversity and eliminating discrimination.

University of Florida Regulations and Policies

• UF Regulation 1-1.006 – University of Florida, Non-Discrimination Policy
• UF Regulation 1-1.0061 – University of Florida; Affirmative Action Plan for Institutional Equity & Diversity, and Administrative Organization for the Affirmative Action Program
• UF Regulation 1-3.051 – Finance and Administration; University Grievance Procedures for Technical, Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Support Staff: General Information, Resort to Other Procedures, Time Limits, Procedures, and Arbitration Appeal
• UF Regulation 1-3.062 – Finance and Administration; General Personnel Policy for University Support Personnel System Employees

University of Florida and External Offices

• Office for Accessibility and Gender Equity
• Institutional Planning and Research
• Office of the Chief Diversity Officer
• Student Disability Resource Center
• UFHR – Classification and Compensation
• UFHR – Employee Relations
• UFHR – Talent Acquisition & Onboarding
• UFHR -Training and Organizational Development
• UF Police Department – Victim Services
• (External) Florida Commission on Human Relations
• (External) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Contact UFHR – Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action

Melissa Curry
Vice President for UFHR
Interim Director for Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
903 W. University Avenue
PO Box 115010
Gainesville, FL 32611-5010
Call: (352) 392-2477
Email: eeo@ufl.edu