State and federal compliance:

The Office for Equity & Inclusion provides leadership, coordination and oversight of the University’s compliance with non-discrimination and equal opportunity requirements in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations such as Title VI, Title VII, and Title IX, Affirmative  action reporting and other state and federal employment laws, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and regulations, the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (Campus SaVE), Connecticut Public Act 14-11,the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and all other federal and state non-discrimination requirements. 

A brief overview of some of the major pieces of legislation that govern affirmative action and equal opportunity include: 

  • The Equal Pay Act of 1963 was intended to remove pay differentials between males and females performing the same or similar work at the same facility.

  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act was enacted in 1964 and made it unlawful to discriminate in employment based upon race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This act also established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to implement and enforce the Act. Title VI & Title VII overlap. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Title VI prohibits discrimination in the provision of public programs and educational services on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.