Reaffirmation of Commitment to Hostos Community College
Hostos Community College (“Hostos”) is steadfast in its commitment to building a community of students, faculty, and staff that reflects all backgrounds and lived experiences. We believe that welcoming people from all walks of life strengthens our academic community and deepens our mission to lead in higher education. This commitment means ensuring access to academic success for talented students from diverse backgrounds, including those who have historically been underrepresented in higher education, and fostering a workplace where our faculty and staff bring a rich variety of perspectives and skills to help us achieve that mission. I am proud of our community and know that we are all enriched and strengthened by the different backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas represented here at Hostos.
Accordingly, I am committed to oversee Hostos Community College’s compliance with the CUNY Policies and Procedures on Equal Opportunity & Non-Discrimination, and Sexual Misconduct.
The Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy (“Policy”) states CUNY’s commitment to recruit, employ, retain, promote, and provide benefits to employees regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, partnership status, disability, genetic information, alienage, citizenship, military or veteran status, unemployment status, pregnancy, or status as a victim of domestic violence/stalking/sex offenses, or any other legally prohibited basis in accordance with federal, state and city laws. I remind you that Italian Americans are included among CUNY’s protected groups. I invite you to view the Policy in its entirety, including the complaint procedures and prohibition against retaliation links which can be found on the Office of Compliance and Diversity (“OCD”) page of the Hostos Community College website:
https://www.hostos.cuny.edu/Administrative-Offices/Office-of-Compliance-and-Diversity
Policies and Procedures - Hostos Community College (cuny.edu)
Further, CUNY does not tolerate acts of hate or bigotry of any kind. This includes discrimination or harassment based on national origin or heritage – including shared Jewish, Israeli, Palestinian, Arab, Muslim or South Asian ancestry – and/or the association with these national origins and ancestries. The University will promptly take all necessary and appropriate actions to address any such discrimination and remedy its effects. We encourage students and employees who believe they have been subjected to such discrimination, or who have information about an incident or situation, to report it to the University. Anyone who believes they have been a victim of harassment, discrimination or retaliation should use the CUNY Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Reporting Form.
CUNY desires to expand its inclusivity and accessibility to both students and employees with disabilities. As per Governor Hochul’s Executive Order 31, CUNY is developing a Strategic Plan to enhance recruitment, advancement, and support of individuals with disabilities. Any CUNY employee requiring one or more accommodations to perform their job duties should contact Human Resources as per our policy on Reasonable Accommodations and Academic Adjustments. I invite you to visit the CUNY website to view the Non-Discrimination Policy in its entirety as well as the polices on Reasonable Accommodations and Academic Adjustments and Reporting of Alleged Misconduct.
I have assigned the responsibility for the implementation and monitoring of our compliance program to the Chief Diversity Officer, Philip Oliveri, Esq, who also serves as the Title IX Coordinator and 504/ADA Coordinator. The vice presidents, deans, directors, managers and supervisors share responsibility for ensuring our compliance with these policies and laws, and will be held accountable for enforcing the above-mentioned CUNY policies. OCD is located in Rooms A-336 - 337 at 475 Grand Concourse, Bronx, New York 10451. Any individual who believes they have experienced discrimination should immediately contact Mr. Oliveri at 718- 518-4284 or poliveri@hostos.cuny.edu, and Associate Director Stephanie Oliviero at 718-518-4326 or soliviero@hostos.cuny.edu. They may also utilize the University-wide CUNY Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Reporting Form on the CUNY website.
Additionally, Hostos Community College provides its employees, both staff and faculty members, with career counseling upon request. Employees may reach out to the designated Career Counselor, Human Resources Executive Director Christine Dias-Singh at cdias-singh@hostos.cuny.edu, who can provide all employees with information regarding: job responsibilities, performance evaluation standards, civil service examinations, training opportunities, job postings, and Career Counseling.
At Hostos our strength lies in how we treat one another. In times of challenge, it is essential that we lead with empathy, kindness, and civility. Our community thrives when we listen carefully to one another (especially when perspectives differ) and when we work together to achieve our common goals. Our shared responsibility is to ensure that Hostos remains a place where learning, discovery, and respect for one another defines us. I ask for your continued partnership in sustaining an environment where every member of our community can contribute, feel valued, and succeed.