Multiple federal, state, and Oregon State University (OSU) regulations and policies encourage equity in the workplace through planning and implementation of guidelines and practices designed to end exclusion based on identity.
The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access (EOA) analyzes the OSU workforce each year to evaluate whether we are employing at the expected rates given the demographics of the qualified labor pool. To do this, regular positions are clustered into job groups, then the demographics of each job group are compared to the demographics of the qualified labor pools from which we hire for that job group. The weighted calculation between internal composition and external availability establishes a benchmark for the job group. OSU commits to making good faith efforts to recruit qualified members in applicant pools that reflect established benchmarks.
Additionally, each year, EOA prepares a plan that (1) prohibits discrimination on the basis of a protected status; and (2) establishes a commitment to affirmatively employ persons with disabilities and veterans while also attending to gender and race discrepancies in hiring.
OSU has an affirmative obligation to evaluate the rates at which we hire and employ veterans and disabled individuals. In these cases, benchmarks have been established that are common to all job groups. Where we fall short, additional recruitment methods are employed.
The most up to date plan is available below
Why do we collect and analyze this demographic info?
We collect ethnicity, race, gender, veteran status, and disability information for a variety of reasons. Race and ethnicity are indicators of complex social processes that stratify individuals and provide differential access to opportunities and resources (American Sociological Association). Veterans may also face challenges re-entering civilian life after they complete their military service, and individuals with disabilities are employed at rates well under their availability. Collecting this data enables EOA to track demographic changes, evaluate equity between groups, monitor progress in rectifying inequities, and meet civil rights commitments and obligations.