Under the UMCP Human Relations Code, faculty, associate staff, classified staff, and students may not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, or on the basis of exercise of rights secured by the first Amendment of the United States Constitution. Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against may seek advice from or file a compliant with the Office of Human Relations Programs' Campus Compliance Officer.

Several options for filing a complaint are available: they include a formal, an informal, and an information purposes only complaint.

• A formal complaint has appeal rights. Due process requirements mandate that formal notice of a discrimination charge be given to the parties alleged to have committed discrimination. Thus, confidentiality is not available to the party filing the complaint.
  
• The informal complaint process has no appeal rights. This process is usually very effective, however, and a certain level of confidentiality can usually be assured.
  
• The informational inquiry complaint process is used for those individuals who wish to discuss an incident or practice but do not wish to pursue a resolution. This process is helpful in that it provides notification of improper practice or activities.
  

The RRESD complaint stems from actions directed against person motivated by race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. An RRESD could qualify as a formal or informal complaint if a perpetrator is identified.

Individuals must file a complaint within 120 days of the alleged discriminatory act, and are required to waive any alternative campus administrative procedure that may be available. In addition to filing a complaint with the Campus Compliance Officer, individuals must also lodge a formal complaint within six months of the alleged incident, with either one of the following:

The Federal Employment Opportunity Commission
1801 L Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20507
(202)-663-4900

The Maryland Commission on Human Relations
William Donald, Schaeffer Towers
6 St. Paul, 9th floor
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410)-767-8600

You may read the entire Human Relations Code on our website.

Discrimination complaints may be filed with:
Campus Compliance Officer
Office of Human Relations Programs
Room 0102A
1130 Shriver Lab, East Wing,
301-405-2839.