Statement Reaffirming Principles of Nondiscrimination Policies and Affirmative Action

Since I assumed the presidency of Kingsborough Community College in 2004, one of my major objectives has been to increase the diversity of our college’s faculty and staff. It is appropriate that those employed here would reflect the enormous diversity already present in our student body and our community. I have demonstrated my commitment to this goal both in words and in actions. I have discussed this priority in numerous meetings college-wide and with academic departments. Although it is difficult to demonstrate great changes in overall percentages in a short time, we are making significant strides in creating a more diverse college community. For example, in the last three years, we have increased the total number of faculty from federal underrepresented groups by over 30%.

Though we have made noteworthy progress as an institution, it is important that we remind ourselves of the critical nature of this endeavor and rededicate ourselves to our purpose. As president of Kingsborough Community College, I want to take this opportunity to reaffirm our institution’s commitment and my personal dedication to our goals of inclusion, equal opportunity, affirmative action, and pluralism and diversity in our student admissions, access to programs, educational policies, and employment and personnel practices.

We reiterate our unswerving dedication to comply with all requirements and provisions of federal, state, and city laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action in our educational programs employment practices, including, among others:

· the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009;

· Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964;

· Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973;

· Section 402 of the Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974;

· Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972;

· Executive Orders 11246 and 11375, as amended;

· and the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.

Furthermore, Kingsborough Community College, as a college of the City University of New York, adheres to the policy established by the CUNY Board of Trustees to recruit, employ, retain and promote employees and to admit and provide services for students without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic predisposition or carrier status, alienage or citizenship, veteran status, or marital status.

Kingsborough practices a policy of nondiscrimination and of providing educational opportunities for the disadvantaged as a means of facilitating access to a broader range of education and employment opportunities and to an affirmative action program aimed at ensuring women and members of protected minority groups full opportunity for employment and advancement. The "protected classes" as delineated under existing federal, state and city statutes and regulations are Black, Hispanic (including Puerto Rican), Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaskan Native and Women. On December 9, 1976, the Chancellor of the City University of New York expanded the protected class groups to include Italian-Americans. The University and Kingsborough have and will continue to exercise affirmative action for the "protected classes," including Italian-Americans.

While equal opportunity requires nondiscrimination, affirmative action requires dynamic efforts in carrying out positive measures to actively advance equal employment. For this purpose, our college provides an annual Affirmative Action Plan and adheres to the City University’s protocols for recruitment, hiring, retention, and development of its workforce.

As president of Kingsborough, I require that officers of our administration, faculty, and staff be familiar with the applicable regulations regarding nondiscrimination to assure compliance in their respective areas of responsibility. Undoubtedly, pluralism and diversity provide many positive benefits to the educational goals of our institution. To this end, I urge all responsible officers of the college to persist in the active recruitment, retention, and development of a diverse workforce. On my part, I will endeavor to do all that I can to support these efforts.

To monitor the compliance with and the implementation of the affirmative action and EEO plan, programs, protocols, and regulations set forth by the College, Mr. Angel Rivera, under my direction, serves as our Affirmative Action Officer , Coordinator for the Disabled, and Title IX Coordinator. Mr. Rivera is also responsible for monitoring the college's Employment Discrimination Procedures. If you have any concerns about these matters, Mr. Rivera can be contacted in room A-228 (by phone at extension 5026 or by email at Angel.Rivera@kbcc.cuny.edu).

Let us all work together and continue to support the spirit and goals of affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity at Kingsborough Community College.

Dr. Regina S. Peruggi
President