Allegations of discrimination must be reported within 180 calender days from the date of the last alleged discriminatory act and must violate one of the following Title VII protected categories.
Chart A: EEO Protected Categories
Employment decisions cannot be based on any of these EEO protected categories.
| Age | Age (40 years or older) |
| Color |
Skin color |
| Disability | Perceived or known physical or mental disability; accommodations for disability |
| Ethnicity | Examples: African-American, Chinese-American, Hispanic, etc. |
| Gender | Sexual harassment, sex discrimination, pregnancy, child b earing/rearing,wages based on gender, status as a parent |
| Genetic Information | Genetic test, disease, or disorder of an individual or family member |
| National Origin | Place of birth, parentage |
| Race | Asian, Black, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian, Alaskan Native/American Indian, Caucasian |
| Religion | Belief, practice, and/or celebration of one’s spiritual faith; accommodations for religious holidays, practice, etc. |
| Retaliation | Adverse employment action or act of revenge taken against a person filing or participating in any EEO complaint whether alleged or validated. |
| Sexual Orientation | Sexual preference or perceived sexual preference for member(s) of same or opposite gender |
| Veteran Status | Status as a Vietnam Era veteran or other protected veteran status |
You can download an EEO Complaint form, complete it and return it to AU Employee Relations by:
Upon receipt of a complaint, AU Employee Relations will review the complaint and a determination will be made as to whether or not to proceed with a formal investigation, or proceed with management review. Complainants are asked to allow two (2) business days after submission for AU Employee Relations to conduct the review and respond. Absence of a written complaint does not prevent the office from initiating an investigation.
The Complainant should provide sufficient information to support the allegation(s) of discrimination. This information can include emails, notes, pictures or any items which can help substantiate the claim(s). The accused will be informed of the allegations, and may provide an explanation and/or denial statement regarding the allegations.
In any proceedings, the investigation will be under the direction of AU Employee Relations.
Notification of EEO Complaint
After submitting a public report or EEO Intake Complaint form, notification will be made to the relevant parties (i.e. department management, the Accused, Provost, Vice President of Human Resources, and General Counsel for Legal Affairs).
Investigation Confidentiality
The AA/EEO Officer will endeavor to complete the investigation within a reasonable timeframe. Throughout the investigation, confidentiality will be maintained to the extent that it does not impede the investigation or prevent corrective actions from being taken. Participants may have a non-legal person attend interview meetings. However, this person will not represent the employee or take an active part in the interview proceedings.
Augusta University officials may not fire, demote, harass, or otherwise “retaliate” against individuals who: (1) file or encourage one to file a complaint of unlawful discrimination, (2) participate in an investigation of unlawful discrimination, or (3) oppose unlawful discrimination in one or more of the listed protected categories. An individual who reasonably believes that he/she has experienced retaliation under these procedures, should report the incident to AU Employee Relations.
Once the investigation has concluded, the AA/EEO Officer will normally document the findings in an investigative report that will be submitted to the applicable Executive Vice President (EVP). The Complainant and the accused will be notified by department management after the findings have been accepted by the EVP. The recommendations cited in the investigative report will be implemented within a reasonable period of time. The AA/EEO Officer will work with appropriate management personnel to carry out the recommended actions.
Mediation
Mediation is a viable option for settling disputes. For further information regarding mediation, contact Human Resources Division’s Employee Relations & Organizational Development section. Should mediation efforts breakdown, the Complainant will return to AU Employee Relations to begin the investigation.
AU Employee Relations is responsible for responding to complaints from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity (GCEO). AU Employee Relations will request information from sources (e.g. departments, human resources, etc.) in order to facilitate an appropriate response. A response to an external agency usually has a preset deadline.
