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Dec 18 2023 DEI Minutes

 

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Employee Forum

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

December 18, 2023

Minutes

Attendees: Rebecca Howell, Lori Shamblin, David Bragg, Julie Theriault, Charlissa Rice, Jacqueline Schwamberger, Audrey Shore, Vanessa Mitchell, Elizabeth DuBose

Guests: Tiffany Bailey

 

  • Special presentation:
    • Tiffany Bailey, Director of Equal Opportunity/ADA Coordinator, EOC Office
    • https://eoc.unc.edu/uncaccess/
    • Accommodations
      • Works with folks on waivers of recruitment, equitable search processes, etc.
      • Helps oversee other university efforts as it relates to access and compliance
      • Accommodations process is similar to student accommodations
        • Refer employees who need accommodations to the EOC office
      • ARS will be merging into EOC – “one stop shop”
      • What accommodations are offered?
    • Approval process takes approximately 30 days
      • There are 3 accommodations specialists dedicated to employees
    • Check resource link in menu on main EOC site: https://eoc.unc.edu/  – resources pointing people to the applicable places to find assistance
    • Working with campus partners on a physical barrier assessment
      • Julie: Q about elevators; working with employees and students who have a physical barrier/limitation. Answers that should be given versus what IS relayed; e.g.., If elevators can’t be fixed for 6 months, does the person not come to work for 6 months? Hhow much is the EOC involved.
        • Heavily involved; group of stakeholders launched elevator notification launch; looking at alternative accommodations while things are being addressed
        • If there are questions/if a supervisor doesn’t allow remote work, etc., they can reach out to EOC
        • https://eoc.unc.edu/report-an-access-concern/
    • Charlie – when an accommodation request form is submitted, how long does it take to receive a response?
      • At least 48 hours
      • Might request more information
      • Point person designated every week to review
      • Waiver of recruitment process is a little different – involves more review
    • Is 30 days typical?
      • That is policy, but actual turn around time is faster
      • Once documentation is received, schedule meeting with employee and supervisor
      • Depending on complexity of request, there might be more interactions required
    • If a student or employee is transitioning in gender, is the EOC office who handles that, or is there another office?
      • First will point them to LGBTQ Resource Center
      • If it’s disability related, or is in the DSM, will get involved
      • Requests do come in for medicinal and surgical processes and will work with people on that
    • What the EOC does is complex, and always gray, so the team is happy to answer any questions
    • Retaliation/discrimination claims related to accommodations are investigated
    • UNC Healthcare has its own accommodations process
      • Doctors do have faculty appointments, so they do look at accommodations for those physicians
    • David – Since ARS will be reporting you soon, something that I was recently asked about here in software distribution, is if UNC could investigate using Speechify instead of ClaroRead because the voices are much more natural sounding and easier to understand / easier to listen to when having to listen to a long book for example.
      • Typically do individual provision of software
      • Will be looking at an assortment of options

 

  • Check-in on upcoming Spring date change
    • 2nd Tuesdays at 11am
    • Next meeting 1/9

 

  • Any other business

 

  • Adjourn 3:32
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