During full-time faculty and staff searches, the Law School works with the University EEO office to ensure proper recruitment efforts. The Law School follows the Search Committee Guide issued by the University’s Department of Human Resources (HR) and the Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance Office, which can be found here: https://eorc.olemiss.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/99/2015/11/HR-and-EORC-Search-Committee-Guide.pdf. Among other things, this policy requires that:
- Committee members be diverse in both race and gender;
- The position be advertised broadly, including in “minority-targeted publications;”
- The Ad must state: “The University of Mississippi is an EOE/AA/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Title VI/Title VII/Title IX/504/ADA/ADEA employer.”
The appointment of new faculty and staff at the University cannot move forward until the Office of Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance has verified that the recruitment and selection process is in compliance with all relevant policies.
All University jobs are posted to (https://www.diversityjobs.com/) and its full network of niche diversity sites. Diversity Jobs (https://www.diversityjobs.com/) is an extensive network of job boards that gives job seekers free access to thousands of jobs. This network includes ALLLGBTJobs.com (https://alllgbtjobs.com/).
We sent out an anonymous survey to all faculty and staff using SurveyMonkey. The survey explained that it was a Self-ID program and that it allows members of our community to self-identify as LGBTQ+ on a voluntary and confidential basis. Out of all of our faculty and staff, we received 23 responses.
With respect to 15, 15a, 15b, and 15c: The University offers health insurance coverage to faculty/staff through the State and School Employees’ Health Insurance Plan. A legally married spouse, same-sex or different-sex, is deemed a qualifying dependent and eligible for enrollment. Information about the State Health Plan is available in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) which can be accessed at http://knowyourbenefits.dfa.ms.gov/publications/.
A legally married spouse, same-sex or different-sex, is deemed a qualifying dependent and eligible for enrollment. Employees who are legally married, same-sex or different-sex, are also entitled to the same FMLA and paternal benefits. The State Health Plan Summary Plan Description provides information about benefits offered with the Plan, in addition to excluded services. http://knowyourbenefits.dfa.ms.gov/publications/
Employees who are legally married, same-sex or different-sex, are also entitled to the same FMLA and paternal benefits. Policies can be accessed via the following links.
- Leave Guidelines (HRO.BE.600.010) – https://policies.olemiss.edu/ShowDetails.jsp?istatPara=1&policyObjidPara=10659144
- Personal Leave for Twelve-Month Employee (HRO.BE.600.020) – https://policies.olemiss.edu/ShowDetails.jsp?istatPara=1&policyObjidPara=10659146
- Major Medical Leave-12-Month Employees (HRO.BE.600.030) – https://policies.olemiss.edu/ShowDetails.jsp?istatPara=1&policyObjidPara=10659147
- Major Medical Leave-9-Month Employees (HRO.BE.600.040) – https://policies.olemiss.edu/ShowDetails.jsp?istatPara=1&policyObjidPara=10659157
- Family and Medical Leave Guidelines (HRO.BE.600.050) – https://policies.olemiss.edu/ShowDetails.jsp?istatPara=1&policyObjidPara=10659158
Information is also available on the Types of Leave website. http://hr.olemiss.edu/benefits/leave/
The State Health Plan Summary Plan Description provides information about benefits offered with the Plan, in addition to excluded services. http://knowyourbenefits.dfa.ms.gov/publications/
The Office of Insurance has asked employer units to not address questions about how benefits are paid, if a specific service may be covered, etc. since we are not involved in the claims process. If you have specific questions about transition-related benefits, please direct them to the Office of Insurance at 866-586-2781.
The State Health Plan Summary Plan Description provides information about benefits offered with the Plan, in addition to excluded services. http://knowyourbenefits.dfa.ms.gov/publications/
The Office of Insurance has asked employer units to not address questions about how benefits are paid, if a specific service may be covered, etc. since we are not involved in the claims process. If you have specific questions about transition-related benefits, please direct them to the Office of Insurance at 866-586-2781.
With respect to question 18, Law students are not covered by health insurance plan.
Our counseling center espouses a philosophy of acceptance and respect, compassion and support for [students]. Also, there is a UNITAS (LGBT) Counseling Group.
The Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on LGBTQ Affairs identified restroom 1118 as the most private restroom for any trans student. The identified procedure is for a person to check out a key for the room from office 2065.
Go to the Campus Map and [on the left] select Services. Then, select Health & Safety. Finally, select Restrooms. At this point, you will be able to see private restrooms in any building on campus that has one.
Link to All Gender Restrooms: https://lgbtq.olemiss.edu/all-gender-restrooms-at-um/
Gender and the Law was offered in 2018-2019 and will be offered again in 2020-2021.
We provided funding for 2 students to attend Lavender Law in 2019. Also, OUTlaw is funded by our Student Bar Association for events and programs.
Yes, mandatory for all students
With respect to questions 25-27: Our law school is part of a larger university that has a Bias Incident Response Team. The Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) is an educational, non-judicial team that provides members of the University of Mississippi community an opportunity to receive education, support, and appropriate resolution in response to bias-related incidents.
Bias-related incidents are defined as threats or acts of harassment or intimidation, whether verbal, written or physical, which are directed against a person because of that person’s age, color, ability, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), socioeconomic status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran status, family medical or genetic makeup or information, intellectual perspective, criminal background, and potentially other identities or identifiers.
Participation by all parties in the BIRT process is voluntary. If a member of BIRT identifies a situation in which there is a possible violation of the University of Mississippi’s policies or the law, the information will be transferred to the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, University Police Department, and/or Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance (EORC) for investigation and possible adjudication. BIRT is not a disciplinary process and does not function in lieu of any disciplinary or complaint processes within or outside of the University.
To bring a bias-related incident to our attention, please complete this reporting form. Reports submitted anonymously are accepted, but may limit BIRT’s ability to offer support. If you have questions, you may also e-mail diversity@olemiss.edu or call Office of Diversity and Community Engagement at 662-915-2933. For immediate assistance or emergencies, please contact the University of Mississippi’s Department of Police and Campus Safety at 662-915-7234.
Training is required at the time of employment and required for Search Committee Members.We encourage Faculty, Staff and Students to participate in the Allies Training workshop facilitated by the Center for Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement. Allies training is a 2.5 to 3-hour workshop that aims to:
1) encourage foundational understanding of LGBTQ+ definitions, concepts and terms relating to sexual orientation and gender identities,
2) introduce campus and state-level issues and concerns that impact individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and/or questioning/queer, and
3) model how to be an effective and informed ally to those communities.
Our university also has M-Pride for student involvement and a city-wide Oxford-Pride (https://www.oxfordmspride.rocks/) and OutOxford which is supported by the university’s Sarah Isom Center for Gender Studies (https://sarahisomcenter.org/).
In reference to #4: While we do not have a specific question in the admissions application providing applicants the opportunity to self-identify as LGBTQ+, we do have a question about gender identity/expression. We plan to revise our application next cycle in order to provide space for applicants to self-identify as LGBTQ+.