ChooseU’s policies, programs and activities comply with federal and state laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression and veteran status.
Non-Discrimination Statement
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IS THE LAW
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Applicants to and employees of companies with a Federal government contract or subcontract are protected under Federal law from discrimination on the following bases:
RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN
Executive Order 11246, as amended, prohibits job discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin, and requires affirmative action to ensure equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment.
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, protects qualified individuals from discrimination on the basis of disability in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training, classification, referral, and other aspects of employment. Disability discrimination includes not making reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability who is an applicant or employee, barring undue hardship. Section 503 also requires that Federal contractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities at all levels of employment, including the executive level.
DISABLED, RECENTLY SEPARATED, OTHER PROTECTED, AND ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL VETERANS
The Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended, 38 U.S.C. 4212, prohibits job discrimination and requires affirmative action to employ and advance in employment disabled veterans, recently separated veterans (within three years of discharge or release from active duty), other protected veterans (veterans who served during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized), and Armed Forces service medal veterans (veterans who, while on active duty, participated in a U.S. military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded).
RETALIATION
Retaliation is prohibited against a person who files a complaint of discrimination, participates in an OFCCP proceeding, or otherwise opposes discrimination under these Federal laws.
Any person who believes a contractor has violated its nondiscrimination or affirmative action obligations under the authorities above should contact immediately:
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, 1-800-397-6251 (toll-free) or (202) 693-1337 (TTY). OFCCP may also be contacted by e-mail at OFCCP-Public@dol.gov, or by calling an OFCCP regional or district office, listed in most telephone directories under U.S. Government, Department of Labor.
GRIEVANCE/COMPLAINT PROCEDURE
ChooseU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Program Service Provider. We are committed to the spirit and letter of all federal, state and local laws and regulations pertaining to equal opportunity. As a recipient or sub-recipient of Federal financial assistance, we do not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation or belief; and against any beneficiary of programs financially assisted under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) and/or Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA), on the basis of the beneficiary’s citizenship/status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States, or his/her participation in any WIA/WIOA Title I-financially assisted program or activity. We do not discriminate in any of the following areas: deciding who will be admitted or have access to any WIOA Title I-financially assisted program or activity; providing opportunities in, or treating any person with regard to, such a program or activity; or making employment decisions in the administration of, or in connection with, such a program or activity. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
If you have a complaint, or feel that your rights have been violated, you may file a grievance according to the information below.
Noncriminal, Nondiscrimination and Displacement Grievances
We encourage you to speak with the Chief, Learner Experience Officer who will ensure that every effort is made to address your concerns. If the Chief, Learner Experience Officer doesn’t resolve your concerns within 30 calendar days, you may forward your formal written grievance to the Chief Executive Officer, 1616 H Street NW Suite 820 Washington DC 20006. Any formal Grievance must be filed within 180 days of the alleged violation. Your formal Grievance must be made in writing, signed and dated, and contain the following information: full name, contact (telephone, mailing address, etc.) of Grievant; full name, contact (telephone, mailing address, etc.) of the Respondent (the person or entity against whom the Grievance is made); a statement of the basis for complaint, including the requirement of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) and/or Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA) that the Grievant alleges has been violated; a statement of the facts, including pertinent dates, constituting the alleged violation; and the remedy being sought. You have the right to receive technical assistance in filing your Grievance, including instructions on how to file, relevant copies of documents such as the WIOA regulations, local policies, contracts, etc., and clarification/interpretation of relevant provisions.
If we do not have jurisdiction over the complaint, we will notify you immediately in writing with instructions to whom you should file your complaint. If we have jurisdiction, the Chief Executive Officer will work to resolve your Grievance and provide you with a written Statement of Resolution with the facts, decisions, rationale, and corrective actions (if any) within 60 days.
If you are dissatisfied with the Statement of Resolution, or if 60 days pass without receiving a written response, you may file your Grievance with an alternative agency. You must do so within 30 days of the date you received the Statement of Resolution or the expiration of the 60-day period. Submit your written request for review to the US Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Room S5514, 200 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20210.
Criminal and Discrimination Complaints
It is against the law for us to discriminate on the following basis: against any individual in the United States, basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, transgender status, and gender identity), national origin (including limited English proficiency), age, disability, political affiliation or belief, or, for beneficiaries, applicants, and participants only, on the basis of citizenship status or participation in a WIOA Title-I financially assisted program or activity. We must not discriminate in any of the following areas: deciding who will be admitted, or have access, to any WIOA Title I financially assisted program or activity; providing opportunities in, or treating any person with regard to, such a program or activity; or making employment decisions in the administration of, or in connection with, such a program or activity.
If you think that you have experienced or been subjected to unlawful discrimination under a WIA/WIOA Title I-financially assisted program or activity, contact ChooseU Chief People Officer, Tanya Wedderburn, via email at tanya.wedderburn@skillgrowth.org.
If you file your Complaint with ChooseU you must wait for a written Notice of Final Action or until 90 days have passed before filing a complaint with the Civil Rights Center (CRC).
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If you are dissatisfied with the decision or resolution, or if 90 days pass without receiving a written Notice of Final Action, you may file your Complaint with The Director, Civil Rights Center (CRC), U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room N-4123, Washington, DC 20210. You must do so within 30 days of the date you received the Notice of Final Action or the expiration of the 90-day period.
If you receive assistance through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) or TANF/WT, complaints can be filed with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, 200 Constitution Ave., NW Room S-5014, Washington, DC 20210.
If you receive assistance through SNAP, complaints can be filed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Hearing Clerk, Room 112, Administration Building, Washington, DC 20250.
Grievances related to Criminal Violations and Reports Alleging Fraud, Waste and Abuse related to GYEI programs can be mailed to the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Room S5514, 200 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20210. The Hotline number is 1-800-347-3765.
Retaliation Prohibited: No person or agency may discharge, or in any other manner discriminate or retaliate against any person, or deny to any person a benefit to which that person is entitled under the provisions of the Act or the regulations because such person has filed any complaint, instituted or caused to be instituted any proceedings under or related to the Act has testified or is about to testify in any such proceedings or investigation or has provided information or assisted in an investigation.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IS THE LAW
Applicants to and employees of companies with a Federal government contract or subcontract are protected under Federal law from discrimination on the following bases:
CIVILITY POLICY
ChooseU places a priority on learning and professional development. We value the inherent worth and dignity of every person, thereby fostering a community of mutual respect.
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Our learners have the right to a learning environment free of disruptive behaviors and offensive comments. Instructors, TAs and ChooseU Staff have the right to definite appropriate behavioral expectations in the classroom and in multimodal learning and communication portals.
Instructors, TAs and ChooseU Staff have the responsibility to manage and address classroom disruption.
Instructors, TAs and ChooseU Staff also have the right and responsibility to define appropriate behaviors necessary to conduct any program activity free of disruption or obstruction.
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Last updated: 06/14/2023