Policies & Procedures

Requesting an Exception to the Normal Competitive Search Process (Requesting an Appointment of Opportunity) Policy

An Appointment of Opportunity is a process to request an exception or waiver of normal search requirements (e.g., a competitive search process). These requests may be made under limited and specific conditions, as articulated in Policy 1600.01. Appointments of opportunity categories include the following: dual career assistance; faculty or staff diversity initiative; exceptional merit; professional staff project appointments; sponsored program (grant-funded); and critical need appointments. Please contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance with any questions. Relevant procedures are listed below:

• Requesting a Dual Career Assistance (DCA) Appointment of Opportunity (PRO-U1600.01A)

• Requesting an Appointment of Opportunity (Non-DCA) (PRO-U1600.01B)

Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation Policy

Western Washington University (WWU) is committed to providing equal opportunities and prohibiting discrimination in employment and education based on race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, citizenship or immigration status, pregnancy, use of protective leave, genetic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, creed, religion, veteran or military status, disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability.

• Discrimination Complaint Procedure PRO-U1600.02A 

Accommodating Persons with Disabilities Policy

WWU provides reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental disabilities of otherwise qualified individuals, including employees, students and the public, except when such accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the institution. The Executive Director of the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance is WWU’s ADA Coordinator. The Assistant Vice President of Human Resources is responsible for employee accommodations. The Director of the Disability Access Center is responsible for student accommodations.

Preventing and Responding to Sexual Harassment Under Title IX

• Attachment to POL-U1600.04. Support Services and Reporting Options for People Who Experience Sexual Misconduct
• Attachment to POL-U1600.04 Resources for Respondents Involved in Title IX Grievance Proceedings

WWU provides a positive learning and working environment for students and employees and will not tolerate sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, and sexual violence. Sexual violence includes sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking.  WWU employees are required to complete trainings about preventing and responding to sexual harassment and sexual violence provided by the CRTC. The interim Executive Director and Title IX Coordinator is Dr. Melynda Huskey.

• Title IX Grievance Procedure PRO-U1600.04A
• Supplemental Title IX Employee Disciplinary Procedure PRO-U1600.04B

Implementing Affirmative Action Program Policy

As a federal contractor, WWU develops and implements Affirmative Action Programs (AAP) for people of color, women, people with disabilities, and protected veterans.  The AAP identifies the number of women, people of color, people with disabilities and veterans in all job groups on campus, and outlines WWU’s good faith efforts to increase the representation of women, people of color, people with disabilities and veterans employed at WWU.

Prohibiting Consensual Intimate Personal Relationships between Supervisors and Supervisees Policy

The purpose of this policy is to promote professionalism in supervisor-supervisee relationships, which require an environment of mutual trust and respect; clarify that consensual personal relationships between supervisors and supervisees that are intimate (emotionally or physically) or romantic or sexual in nature are in violation of this policy; and recognize that the voluntariness of a supervisee’s consent may be questionable due to the power differential that exists between supervisors and supervisees and may result in claims of sexual harassment. Employees are referred to Policy U5410.01 Employing Family Members and Significant Others for guidance if you are in a family or significant other relationship with a supervisor or supervisee.

Section 8: Consensual Intimate Personal Relationships Between Faculty and Students

Intimate personal relationships between faculty members and students currently in the faculty member’s class or under that individual’s supervision are prohibited and considered a violation of the Code of Ethics, since the faculty member has professional responsibility for the student. Intimate personal relationships between faculty members and students occurring outside the instructional and supervisory context may also lead to difficulties, particularly when the faculty member and student are in the same academic unit or in units that are academically allied. In such situations, the faculty member may face serious conflicts of interest and should be careful to maintain distance from any decisions that may reward or penalize the student involved.