In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, veteran or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

The University will regard freedom from discrimination and discriminatory harassment as an individual employee and student right, which will be safeguarded as a matter of policy. Any employee or student will be subject to disciplinary action for violation of this policy. Retaliation against anyone who makes a complaint of discrimination or harassment or who is involved in a complaint process will not be tolerated.

Procedures

Affirmative action plans for the various institutions and organizational units of the University System must be approved by the University President and Chancellor. Copies of the current institutional plan shall be on file at each University in the Office of Human Resources.

Equal Opportunity Complaint Procedure

Definitions

Gender
A person’s actual or perceived sex, gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression, whether that gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression is different from that traditionally associated with the sex assigned at birth.

Gender identity
A person’s internal sense of being male, female, or something else such as agender, binary, gender fluid, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, or nonbinary. Since gender identity is internal, one’s gender identity is not necessarily visible to others and may not be associated with the sex assigned at birth.

Ethnicity
A person’s demographic identity relative to a group of people sharing a culture that includes race, religion, language, and other cultural characteristics, including ancestry or country of origin.

Familial status
One or more individuals (who have not attained the age of 18 years) being domiciled with–

  • a parent or another person having legal custody of such individual or individuals; or
  • the designee of such parent or other person having such custody, with the written permission of such parent or other person, or
  • one or more individuals 18 years of age or older who lack the ability to meet essential requirements for physical health, safety, or self-care because the individual or individuals are unable to receive and evaluate information or make or communicate decisions.

The protections afforded against discrimination based on familial status shall apply to any person who is pregnant or is in the process of securing legal custody of any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years.

Ancestry
A person’s self-identified origin, descent, lineage, nationality group, or country in which the person or person’s parents or ancestors were born.

Disability (physical or mental)
An individual who:

  • has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, OR
  • has a record of such impairment, OR
  • is regarded as having such an impairment.

Military status
An individual who is a veteran, current military personnel, reservist, member of the National Guard, or dependent family member of current military personnel.