MISSION OF EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

East Carolina University, a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina, is a public doctoral university committed to meeting the educational needs of North Carolina and the mid-Atlantic region. It offers baccalaureate, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees in the liberal arts, sciences, and professional fields, including medicine.  The university is dedicated to educational excellence, responsible stewardship of the public trust, and academic freedom.  ECU values the contributions of a diverse community, supports shared governance, and guarantees equality of opportunity.

The university’s motto is “servire,” meaning "to serve."  The university seeks to meet that obligation through the interrelated components of its mission: service through education, research and creative activity, and leadership and partnership.

The educational mission is to provide students with a rich, distinctive undergraduate and graduate educational experience. The university is committed to developing each learner's ability to discover, evaluate, and communicate knowledge; to make informed decisions; and to recognize a decision's ethical dimensions. The university also is committed to imparting a sense of citizenship and personal responsibility, fostering lifelong learning, and nurturing an understanding of the interdependencies of people and their environments.

ECU’s research mission serves to advance knowledge, to encourage creative activity, to solve significant human problems, and to provide the foundation for professional practice through the support of basic and applied research.  The university is committed to integrating research and creative activities in the educational experiences of students. It also is committed to enriching culture and being a leader in innovative research applications.

The service mission of East Carolina University, as an institution with a tradition of strong regional ties and public outreach, is to provide leadership and to engage in partnerships supporting public education, health care and human services, cultural activities, and regional development.

EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY POLICY

East Carolina University is committed to equality of opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees based on race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, or disability.

All employment decisions will be made so as to further the principle of equal employment opportunity.  The university will recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all positions without regard to race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, or disability.  Consistent with this principle, all promotion decisions will be made using valid requirements and all personnel actions (such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, return from layoff, university sponsored training, education, tuition assistance, and social and recreational programs) will be administered without regard to race, religion, color, creed, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability.

This policy on nondiscrimination and the Affirmative Action Program of East Carolina University are consistent with and pursuant to the guidelines set forth in Executive Order 11246 and its implementing regulations.  The Affirmative Action Program implements guidelines set forth under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination In Employment Act of 1976, the Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992.

The university's policy is consistent with NCGS 126-16:  "All State .... agencies .... of North Carolina shall give equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, or handicapping condition to all persons qualified, except where specific age, sex, or physical requirements constitute bona fide occupational qualifications necessary to proper and efficient administration.  This section with respect to equal opportunity as to age shall be limited to individuals who are at least forty years of age but less than seventy years of age.”  It is also consistent with The Code of The University of North Carolina, Section 103:  "Admission to, employment by, and promotion in The University of North Carolina and all of its constituent institutions shall be on the basis of merit and there shall be no discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, or national origin."

The responsibility for implementation of this plan rests with the chancellor.  The vice chancellors, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, deans of professional schools, departmental chairpersons, and principal administrative directors are responsible for assisting him in implementing these policies.  These responsibilities also include coordination of the university's efforts to comply with all applicable aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992. They will assure that decisions involving recruitment, selection, appointment, and

promotion of faculty and staff at all levels are made in a nondiscriminatory manner and in accordance with the goals of the ECU Affirmative Action Plan.

The chancellor has also appointed the EEO officer to coordinate all aspects of the Affirmative Action Plan, initiate programs to assist in reaching the goals of the Affirmative Action Plan, maintain a record system, identify problem areas, monitor progress, and assist faculty, staff, and students to resolve problems.  These responsibilities also include coordination of the university’s efforts to comply with all applicable aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992. 

Any student of East Carolina University who has a complaint of discrimination should follow the procedure outlined in the Student Handbook (The Clue Book).  Current, former, or prospective faculty or staff who have a complaint should follow the procedures outlined in the Faculty Manual or the East Carolina University Business Manual.  The EEO officers will provide information to any individual concerning the appropriate grievance procedures.

Copies of the Affirmative Action Plan are available in Joyner Library, Health Sciences Library, the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, and the Department of Human Resources.

This Affirmative Action Plan will be evaluated annually and a report prepared by the EEO officer for review by the chancellor.  The EEO officer is Taffye Benson Clayton.  The Office of Equal Opportunity Programs is located in 104 Spilman; telephone 252-328-6804.  The associate EEO officer is Amy Waters, whose office is located in the Taylor-Slaughter Alumni Center, 901 East Fifth Street, 252-328-1957.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION

East Carolina University is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability.

East Carolina University supports the protections available to members of its community under all applicable federal laws, including Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Section 799A and 845 of the Public Health Service Act; the Equal Pay Act; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1974; the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992; and Executive Order 11246, as amended by Executive Order 11375.

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992, accommodations of the disabled extend to student programs, employment practices, elimination of physical barriers, and special assistance to disabled students and employees within the university.

This nondiscrimination policy covers admission, readmission, access to, and treatment and employment in university programs and activities, including, but not limited to, academic admissions, financial aid, any services, and employment.

Any student who believes that he or she has been discriminated against by the university because of his or her race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, or disability may speak with the director of the Office of Student Conflict Resolution, Mary Louise Antieau, 201 Whichard Building, East Carolina University. Following that discussion, a student who wishes to file a formal or informal grievance will be directed to the appropriate office.  Any member of the university community desiring information or having a complaint or grievance in regard to these provisions should contact the assistant to the chancellor/EEO officer, Taffye Benson Clayton, 104 Spilman, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC  27858-4353; telephone 252-328-6804 or the associate EEO officer.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION PLAN, POLICY,
AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE FOR COMPLAINTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Sexual harassment and discrimination  are illegal and endanger the environment of tolerance, civility, and mutual respect that must prevail if the university is to fulfill its mission.  East Carolina University is committed to providing and promoting an atmosphere in which employees can realize their maximum potential in the work place and students can engage fully in the learning process.  Further, amorous relations between a student and a university employee who is responsible for supervising or evaluating the student, or between an employee and the person supervising that employee may derogate the merit principle of supervision and evaluation.  This policy is the university’s statement of its intent to prohibit sexual harassment and discrimination and to prohibit amorous relations between the university’s employees and students, and employees and supervisors when these relations create a risk of favoritism.

The following constitute sexual harassment:  making verbal remarks or committing physical actions that propose to people of either sex that they engage in or tolerate activities of a sexual nature in order to avoid some punishment or to receive some reward; singling out people of either sex and creating or attempting to create a hostile university or working environment or otherwise attempting to harm or harming people because of their sex; and continuing verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when the person the conduct is directed toward has  indicated clearly, by word or action, that this conduct is unwanted.

Sexual discrimination consists of actions that subject employees or students to unequal treatment on the basis of their sex.

It is the responsibility of members of the university community to strive to create an environment free of sexual harassment and discrimination and free of unprofessional bias in the supervision and evaluation of students and employees.  It is against the policies of East Carolina University for its employees or students to propose to other employees or students that they engage in or tolerate activities of a sexual nature in order to avoid some punishment or to receive some reward; to create a hostile university or work place environment for an individual or group because of the individual's or the group's sex; to continue verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when the employees or students of the university such conduct is directed toward have indicated clearly, by word or action, that such conduct is unwanted; to engage in consensual amorous relationships with students or other university employees whom the employee is or will be supervising or evaluating; and to subject other employees or students to unequal treatment on the basis of their sex.

Complaints brought against East Carolina University students by East Carolina University students, faculty, staff, administrators, or visitors are governed by the grievance procedures presented in the Student Handbook, Appendix III. 

Complaints brought against East Carolina University staff by East Carolina University students, faculty, staff, administrators, or visitors are governed by the grievance procedures stated in the East Carolina University Business Manual, Volume 2, Section VIII.

Complaints brought against East Carolina University faculty members or administrators holding faculty status by East Carolina University students, faculty, staff, administrators, or visitors are governed by the grievance procedures presented in the Student Handbook, Appendix III. 

Any person having a complaint of sexual harassment should contact Taffye Benson Clayton, equal employment opportunity  officer, 104 Spilman; telephone 252-328-6804.  The associate EEO officer is Amy Waters, whose office is located in the Taylor-slaughter Alumni Center, 901 East Fifth Street, telephone 252-328-1957.

HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA

In North Carolina, all the public educational institutions that grant baccalaureate degrees are part of The University of North Carolina .  East Carolina University is one of sixteen constituent institutions of the multicampus state university.

The University of North Carolina, chartered by the NC General Assembly in 1789, was the first public university in the United States to open its doors and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century.  The first class was admitted in Chapel Hill in 1795.  For the next 136 years, the only campus of The University of North Carolina was at Chapel Hill.

In 1877, the NC General Assembly began sponsoring additional institutions of higher education, diverse in origin and purpose.  Five were historically black institutions and another was founded to educate American Indians.  Several were created to prepare teachers for the public schools.  Others had a technological emphasis.  One is a training school for performing artists.

In 1931, the NC General Assembly redefined The University of North Carolina to include three state-supported institutions:  the campus at Chapel Hill (now the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), North Carolina State College (now North Carolina State University at Raleigh), and Woman's College (now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro).  The new multicampus University operated with one board of trustees and one president.  By 1969, three additional campuses had joined The University through legislative action:  the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

In 1971, the General Assembly passed legislation bringing into The University of North Carolina the state's ten remaining public senior institutions, each of which had until then been legally separate:  Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, North Carolina Central University, the North Carolina School of the Arts, Pembroke State University, Western Carolina University, and Winston-Salem State University.  This action created the current sixteen-campus University.  (In 1985, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, a residential high school for gifted students, was declared an affiliated school of The University, and in 1996, Pembroke State University was renamed the University of North Carolina at Pembroke through legislative action.)

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors is the policy-making body legally charged with "the general determination, control, supervision, management, and governance of all affairs of the constituent institutions."  It elects the president, who administers The University.  The thirty-two voting members of the Board of Governors are elected by the General Assembly for four-year terms.  Former board chairmen and board members who are former governors of North Carolina may continue to serve for limited periods as nonvoting members emeriti.  The president of The UNC Association of Student Governments, or that student's designee, is also a nonvoting member.

Each of the sixteen constituent institutions is headed by a chancellor, who is chosen by the Board of Governors on the president's nomination and is responsible to the president.  Each institution has a board of trustees, consisting of eight members elected by the Board of Governors, four appointed by the governor, and the president of the student body, who serves ex-officio.  (The NC School of the Arts has two additional ex-officio members.)  Each board of trustees holds extensive powers over academic and other operations of its institution on delegation from the Board of Governors.

ORGANIZATION OF THE UNIVERSITY

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Benjamin S. Ruffin, Chairman
John F.A.V. Cecil, Vice Chairman
G. Irvin Aldridge, Secretary

Terms Expiring in 2003

Terms Expiring in 2005

Emeriti Members

Ex-Officio Member

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA OFFICERS OF ADMINISTRATION

EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY OFFICERS OF ADMINISTRATION