Equity Reporting & Civil Rights Compliance
Equity Reporting & Civil Rights Compliance
The Equity and Civil Rights Compliance Team ensures that all 28 colleges of the Florida College System (FCS) maintain compliance with state and federal laws that protect all persons from discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, marital status, age or disability.
Additionally, this team ensures and monitors the implementation of the Florida Educational Equity Act and the Institutional Employment Equity Accountability Plan for each college. These statutorily required programs promote enrollment and degree completion of traditionally underrepresented students and the employment of underrepresented minorities in selected areas of college employment
The mission of the Equity and Civil Rights Compliance Team is to provide quality and efficient services and technical assistance to the Florida College system to promote access, affordability, and success for all students.
Student Concerns and Complaints
All persons are encouraged to work through the internal complaint and appeal processes at their respective institutions as the first step in filing a complaint. Each college is governed by a Board of Trustees or District Board of Trustees who are responsible for ensuring lawful implementation of complaint procedures according to state statutes and federal regulations.
For more information, visit Concerns & Complaint Process.
State Equity Requirements
Annual Equity Update Plan
Pursuant to s. 1012.86, Florida Statutes (F.S.), the purpose of the Equity Update Plan (EPU) is to provide updates on FCS institutions’ efforts to comply with statutes related to nondiscrimination and equal access to postsecondary education and employment. The review includes an assessment of the college’s methods and strategies established to achieve goals and timelines addressing areas of underrepresentation of minorities in its academic programs, activities and employment. The review also includes an evaluation of submitted policies and procedures for compliance with state and federal civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, marital status, age, genetic information or disability. The review may include comments or recommendations in areas where the college has achieved or exceeded its goals or in areas where there is incomplete or missing information.
FCS Institution Employment Equity Accountability Program
According to s. 1012.86, Florida Statutes, (F.S.), Florida College System Institution Employment Equity Accountability Program (EEAP), each Florida public college shall develop three-year plans for increasing the representation of minorities and females in three employment categories: senior-level administrative positions, also referred to as Executive/Administrative/Managerial (EAM) positions; full-time instructional staff; and full-time instructional staff with continuing contracts.
Annually, colleges submit progress reports and revised plans to the Division of Florida Colleges. The FCS EEAP Report reflects progress toward increasing diversity in recruitment and employment. The statute requires the State Board of Education to submit this report to the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives.
Federal Equity Requirements
Methods of Administration Plan
The United States Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) requires each state agency to prepare a Methods of Administration (MOA) Plan and submit biennial reports which describe equity compliance and monitoring activities, as specified in OCR’s 1996 Revised Memorandum of Procedures and Section II. B of the Guidelines.
The Florida Department of Education submits a comprehensive K-20 report with each division completing their respective sections. In addition, the Equity and Civil Rights Compliance Team develops a MOA Plan to ensure the Division of Florida Colleges (DFC) and its sub-recipients comply with these civil rights regulations. The DFC will continue to report civil rights activities and findings to the OCR through this biennial report.
Virtual and Onsite Monitoring Reviews
Annual monitoring reviews for civil rights compliance with specific civil rights laws are required under federal regulations. The purpose of the review is to determine if a college’s activities, programs and employment opportunities comply with federal regulations that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex or disability.
The monitoring review is organized into the following categories:
- Administrative requirements
- Recruitment (of students)
- Admission practices
- Counseling/advising
- Financial assistance
- Services for students with disabilities
- Work-study, cooperative education programs, job placement, internships and apprenticeships
- Employment
- Accessibility (as necessary)
Additional Information
- FCS Disability Support Services
- U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
- Florida Commission on Human Relations
Relevant Florida Statutes
- Section 1000.05, Florida Statute: The Florida Educational Equity Act
- Section 1012.86, Florida Statute: Community College Employment Equity Accountability Program
- Section 1006.71, F.S., Gender equity in intercollegiate athletics
Relevant Florida State Board of Education Rules
- Rule 6A-10.041, F.A.C., Substitution for Requirements for Eligible Students with Disabilities at Florida Colleges and Postsecondary Career Centers
- 6A-19.001 – 6A-19.010, F.A.C., related to educational equity
Relevant Nondiscrimination Laws
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), 34 CFR Part 100
- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), 34 CFR Part 106
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), 34 CFR Part 104
- Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II), 28 CFR Part 35