Self-Identification of Individuals with Disabilities and Veterans Status

McNeese State University is committed to assuring equal opportunity in employment to individuals with disabilities, disabled veterans, other protected veterans, recently separated veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans. As an employer and government contractor, McNeese State University is subject to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998, the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) of 1974, and the amendments to the affirmative action provisions of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (“VEVRAA” made by the Jobs for Veterans Act (“JVA”) enacted in 2002, and the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2008 (NDAA), Public Law 110-181. Under these Acts, the University is obligated to take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified persons who are members of the above-named groups and eligible employees may take job-protected leave, including during any “qualifying exigency”.

The university files an annual VETS 100 and VETS-100A report with the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS).

As part of its affirmative action program, McNeese State University invites all employees who are individuals with disabilities, disabled veterans, other protected veterans, recently separated veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans to identify themselves as such. Individuals with disabilities are also invited to request any reasonable accommodations that may allow them to perform the essential functions of his/her position. Self-identification and requests for reasonable accommodations may be made now or at any time in the future. Individuals who have submitted self-identification forms or reasonable accommodation requests in the past, and whose status has not changed, need not do so again.

The University’s definition of “disability” will be interpreted according to the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA).

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An individual with a disability is a person who:

• Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working. Major life activities also include major bodily functions, for examples, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.
• Has a record of such an impairment; or
• Is regarded as having such an impairment.

A disabled veteran is:

A veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or

A person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A qualified disabled veteran is a disabled veteran who has the ability to perform the essential functions of the employment positions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Essential functions means fundamental job duties of the employment position the disabled veteran holds or desires. The term essential functions does not include the marginal functions of the position.

An other protected veteran is:

• A veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
• A list of military engagements included in this category may be found on the Office of Personnel Management website, or you may contact the McNeese State University Office of Equal Opportunity at VOICE 337/475-5428; FAX (337) 475-5960; TDD/TTY, Hearing Impaired (337) 562-4227; or cdo@mcneese.edu for assistance.

A recently separated veteran is:

• Any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran’s discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An Armed Forces service medal veteran is:

• Any veteran who while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985 (61 FR 1209, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp. p159).

Disclosure of this information is entirely voluntary.

No adverse consequences will result from providing this information, or from refusing to provide it. Any information provided will be used only in a manner consistent with the Acts. Information provided as part of this self-identification process will be kept confidential, except that where a disability is identified, in accordance with federal law, the following personnel and officials will have access to it:

• Supervisors and other personnel who need to be informed in order to assess requests for and implement any necessary restrictions of work duties and/or necessary accommodations.
• Proper personnel, to the extent appropriate, if the disability might require emergency treatment.
• Government officials investigating compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act or the laws administered by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

If you wish to identify yourself as an individual with a disability, a disabled veteran, an other protected veterans, a recently separated veteran, and/or an Armed Forces service medal veteran, please complete the “Self-Identification of Disabled and Veteran Status” form. If you are an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and you wish to request a reasonable accommodation, please do so in the space provided on the form.

Return the form to the Office of Equal Opportunity, BBC, Room 404.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Dr. Michael Snowden, Chief Diversity Officer, or Kim Dronett, Compliance Program/EEO Specialist in the Office of Equal Opportunity, BBC, Room 404 or at VOICE (337) 475-5428; FAX (337) 475-59670; TDD/TTY, Hearing Impaired (337) 562-4227 or Email Dr. Snowden.

McNeese State University does not discriminate with regard to age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation in admission to or employment or participation in its education programs, services, and activities. The University has adopted the Diversity Awareness Policy to provide for prompt and equitable resolution of discrimination complaints. The Policy describes the grievance procedure for individuals who may have experienced discrimination.