1. Purpose - The Graduate Faculty of the Department of Philosophy at Bowling Green State University affirm, through this statement, their commitment and dedicated efforts to provide equal employment opportunity as prescribed by the Federal Executive Orders 11246 and 11375 and the laws of the State of Ohio. The Department undertakes to abide by the Bowling Green State University Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement and Affirmative Action Program. The Department will not discriminate against any person because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex or age, and it will not knowingly cooperate with, support or employ the services of other organizations which discriminate against persons on such grounds.

This policy statement is designed to establish the intention of the Graduate Faculty, including the departmental Chair and the Chair of the Graduate Committee, to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex or age and to take affirmative action in instances where such opportunity may be limited. Further, the statement establishes administrative procedures for both a periodic review of employment practices and for correction procedures in cases which do not ensure equal employment opportunities.

2. Responsibility - The departmental Chair and the Graduate Program Committee will be responsible for implementing the program. The Graduate Advisor shall (1) review, periodically, departmental practices in recruiting and supervising graduate teaching assistants; (2) compile data and report annually to the Graduate School and to the Graduate Faculty of the Department of Philosophy employment statistics and indications of the effectiveness of the Department's affirmative action programs; (3) develop, in cooperation with the Graduate Program Committee, recommendations for further action and change; (4) meet with the Graduate Program Committee prior to the recruitment of graduate teaching assistants to decide on actions that may be necessary to expand opportunities for minority groups and women; (5) supervise the operation of the Department's grievance procedures governing graduate student assistants.

3. Publication - A copy of this statement and program shall be distributed to faculty, staff and students of the Department. It will also be available to the other internal University offices as well as to external agencies concerned with Affirmative Action Equal Employment Opportunities.

Equal employment opportunity information and other pertinent local and federal brochures will be posted in central areas of departmental operations. All published or printed materials relating to educational and employment opportunities for graduate students will contain a statement of commitment to the principles of equal opportunity.

4. Recruitment, Admission, Employment and Training - Employment and educational opportunities in the Graduate Program of the Department of Philosophy are open to all qualified persons without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex or age. Specified qualifications for positions are those which have direct relationship to the service to be rendered. The Department will seek to overcome the shortage of minority persons and women in philosophy by active recruitment policies. Procedures in the admission of graduate students to the program and the assignment of contracts for teaching assistantships are employed without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex or age. The Department will actively seek out minority persons and women for admission by using the Minority Graduate Student Locator Service provided by the Director of Graduate Admissions and will maintain close communications with Project Search. The department will also seek out information pertaining to possible minority persons and women candidates from such professional organizations as the American Philosophical Association. Potential candidates will be sent a personal letter from the Graduate Advisor describing the program to them and inviting them to apply. The minimal requirement for admission to the Master of Arts program in Philosophy is a Bachelor of Arts degree. Students will be considered for financial assistance on the basis of their academic ability and potential as demonstrated in such information as transcripts and letters of recommendation. Teaching assistantships and work assignments will be equally available to all qualified graduate teaching assistants.

5. Contractors, Vendors, Cooperating Education Institutions and Internship Agencies - Contractors, venders, cooperating educational institutions and internship agencies will be informed of Section I. (Purpose of the Bowling Green State University Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement and Affirmative Action Program.) Suppliers may be required to show evidence of compliance with Federal Executive Orders 11246 and 11375 in contract agreements.

6. Placement - The Graduate Faculty of the Department of Philosophy will employ, in all procedures and records, practices which explore equal opportunity for employment of qualified graduates without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex or age and will not provide information to institutions, corporations, or individuals not declaring a policy of equal employment opportunity. The Graduate Advisor will prepare regular reports for the Department and for the Graduate School which indicate success in placement of minority persons and women.

7. Affirmative Action Plan - The affirmative action plan of the Department of Philosophy addresses two specific issues: (1) recruitment of graduate applicants for admission, and (2) awarding of contracts for assistantships.

a. Recruitment - The Department's recruitment program has as its minimal goal each year the recruitment of at least one minority person and one woman as graduate students and graduate teaching assistants. However, the Department will seek as many qualified minority persons and women as possible for admission and appointment as graduate teaching assistants. The Philosophy Department will include in all of its advertisements and brochures for the Graduate Program, the following announcement. "The Department welcomes applications from women and members of minority groups" (above this heading should be some heading in prominent letters such as "Equal Opportunity"). The Department will also make use of the Student Roster provided by the Minority Graduate Student Locator Service. The Graduate Advisor will send personal letters to all of the persons on the Student Roster, inviting each person to apply for admission to the Graduate Program and to apply for financial assistance. The Department will also seek out information from such professional organizations as the American Philosophical Association regarding women and minority persons. Individual members of the Graduate Faculty will also endeavor to use personal contacts with other members of the profession to locate possible recruits. The Department will also attempt to keep deadlines for admission and awarding of financial assistance flexible, if necessary, to reach minimal goals in admitting or hiring minority persons and women.

b. Minimum Standards

Departmental minimum standards for admission will be published and will specify the following: (1) undergraduate GPA 2.59 or the equivalent (this requirement may be relaxed in exceptional cases); (2) credit hours in Philosophy: 12 hours or the equivalent (this requirement may be relaxed in exceptional cases); (3) GRE scores are required; (4) degree requirement: Bachelor of Arts; (5) course requirements: The Department reserves the right to require the student to remove any deficiencies in his or hers preparation.

c. Minimum Standards for Financial Assistance

Minimum criteria for assistantships include the minimum criteria for admission and in addition the following: (6) evidence, provided by means of letters of recommendation, that the candidate is able to function satisfactorily in the classroom.

d. Publication

Nonrestrictive language will be used while advertising to broaden the pool of graduate applicants as follows: "The Department of Philosophy is subject both to the requirements of Federal Executive Order 11246 and the BGSU Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Program. All interested minority groups and women are encouraged to apply."

e. Appointment to Contract Dates

To facilitate the awarding of contracts for assistantships and fellowships, the following specific date is established to make offers of contracts or appointments: March 7. The Department will complete the process of making offers of contracts and receiving acceptance from candidates by the date: May 30. Letters and inquiries by the Department to applicants are considered informal actions to ascertain whether or not a contract or appointment will be accepted if offered. Formal offers, including the contract or appointment forms, will be made from the Dean's Office on the specified dates in response to requests received from the Department. The Department will always endeavor to consider candidates for admission as promptly as possible.