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  • Climate Survey 2021

    Connect, Share Knowledge, and Succeed Within the LGBTQ+ and Ally Legal Community.

    Charleston School of Law

    March 17, 2021

    Question 1 provided each school with a field to confirm or update their nondiscrimination statement.
     
    2. Does your law school intentionally seek out LGBTQ+ prospective students?
    Yes
    a. If ‘yes,’ how and where are your efforts directed?

    We are able to directly recruitLGBTQ+ students through LSAC’s CRS feature. Utilizing the information from the CRS queries, we are able to send specific communication to LGBTQ+ prospective students about the programs and initiatives we have here on campus. For example, our Student Bar Association produced a video for National Coming Out Day this past fall which we then shared with our LGBTQ+ prospective students.

    3. Does your law school's welcome packet for admitted students include mention of identity group support for LGBTQ+ students, as well as for students of color or other minorities?
    Yes

    Our Accepted Student folder includes a list of all student organizations, including those for LGBTQ+ students and students of color.

    4. Does your school offer students the option to self-identify (also known as "Self-ID") as LGBTQ+ in admissions applications or post-enrollment forms?
    No
    5. Does your law school offer transgender and nonbinary students who have not legally changed their names the ability to have their name-in-use reflected on their admission applications or post enrollment forms?:
    Yes

    Applicants are not required to put their prefix or gender on their law school admission application. In addition, they are asked for their preferred name for the school to use in correspondence, and it can be any name of their choosing.

    6. Does your law school provide any annual scholarships specifically for LGBTQ+ students?
    No
    7. Does your law school actively seek to employ diverse staff/faculty/administrators, including openly LGBTQ+ individuals?:
    Yes
    a. If 'yes,' please detail how and where diversity recruitment efforts are directed:

    Throughout its history, the Law School has been committed to having a full-time faculty that is diverse with respect to its gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Over half of the Law School’s tenured and tenure-earning faculty members are women. Two full-time faculty members are African-American women, one is Latino, and two full-time faculty members are members of the LGBTQ+ community. Thus, four full-time faculty members (17.39%) of the overall full-time faculty count add racial/ethnic diversity, LGBTQ+ diversity, or both.

    When it is determined that there is a need to hire additional faculty, the Faculty Recruitment and Diversity Committee undertakes a thorough search for qualified faculty candidates, including women and members of underrepresented groups. The committee reviews candidates who are participating in the AALS Appointments Register and from direct contacts and referrals both locally and nationwide. The committee also reviews and considers resumes from individuals not currently in academia as well as recommendations from judges and attorneys for positions that might bring diversity to the school. 

    The Law School has also continued to initiate concrete actions to ensure diversity in its hiring practices for staff positions. To reach the largest candidate pool possible, the Human Resource department conducts both local and nationwide searches. These searches include using a wide variety of job sites, hiring sources, third party websites, the Law School’s website, association career placement websites, and advertising through such diverse channels as Indeed, CareerBuilder, Monster, Symplicity, ZipRecruiter, and Handshake. In addition, Human Resources also utilize listservs, local newspapers, and trade periodicals, and encourages existing employees to refer diverse candidates. Once resumes are received, identifying characteristics of the applicant are removed allowing candidates to be chosen for interviews based solely on the matching of skills and experience to the posted job description. This blind search allows for a more diverse pool of well-qualified applicants chosen without regard to possible personal biases. During the interview process, the hiring team includes the Human Resource department, the department head for the position to be hired, and other select employees of varied backgrounds and diversity.  

    The results of these efforts are as follows. Since January 2019, the Law School has had a full-time staff of between 41 and 45 employees and during that same period, the Law School has had a 5% increase in diversity for full-time staff (from an average of 7 minority employees in 2019 to 10 in 2020). As of December 2020, 10 out of 44 full-time (22.7%), non-faculty employees are from minority groups. The school has also maintained a gender diversity in staff of approximately two-thirds female for more than three years.

    8. Does your law school conduct a "Self-ID" program which allows staff/faculty/administrators to voluntarily and (if they desire) confidentially identify their gender identity and sexual orientation?:
    Yes
    a. If you answered 'yes' or 'unsure,' please describe your school's process for collecting this data

    Answer left blank

    9. How many faculty (not staff/administrators) are employed by your law school in total?
    49
    10. How many self-identified LGBTQ+ faculty are employed by your law school in total?
    2
    a. With reference to #10, how many LGBTQ+ faculty self-identify as people of color?
    1
    Lesbian?
    Zero
    Gay?
    2
    Bisexual/Pansexual?
    Zero
    Transgender / Nonbinary?
    Zero
    Queer or member of gender/sexual orientation minority group?
    Zero
    11. How many staff/administrators (not faculty) are employed by your law school in total?
    49
    12. How many self-identified LGBTQ+ staff/administrators are employed by your law school in total?
    1
    a. With reference to #12, how many LGBTQ+ staff/administrators self-identify as people of color?
    1
    Lesbian?
    Zero
    Gay?
    Zero
    Bisexual / Pansexual?
    1
    Transgender / Nonbinary?
    1
    Queer or member of gender/sexual orientation minority group?
    Zero
    13. Does your law school provide employee benefits such as health insurance, family medical leave, parental leave, and nontraditional family planning like assisted reproduction and/or adoptive benefits?
    Yes
    a. If 'yes,' are those employee benefits available on equal terms to employees in same-sex marital/domestic partnership relationships as they are to employees in different-sex marital/domestic partnership relationships?
    Yes
    b. If you answered 'yes' to #13, are those employee benefit plans inclusive of the specific needs of LGBTQ+ employees (i.e., are assisted reproductive benefits offered without the need for extended traditional attempts at pregnancy, are care techniques such as mammograms, prostate exams, hysterectomies, etc. available to employees of all genders, are parental leave policies equal for people of all genders, etc.)?
    No
    c. If you answered 'yes' to #13a AND/OR if you answered 'yes' or 'unsure' to #13b, please summarize or reproduce your policy here:

    BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina Inc. Amendment to Provide for Coverage of Domestic Partners And Children of Domestic Partners 

    Form # 2008.3 

    Subject to the terms and provisions set forth below and all provisions of the Contact, the Contract is amended to allow Coverage of Domestic Partners and children of Domestic Partners as Covered Dependents of Subscribers. The Employer shall be the administrator of the Plan represented by the Contact. 

    Article I – Definition of Domestic Partner 

    A Domestic Partner is a Dependent of the Subscriber who: 

    1. Is unmarried, at least 18 years of age, mentally competent, resides with the Subscriber and intends to reside with the Subscriber for an indefinite amount of time; and; 

    2. Is not related to the Subscriber by adoption or blood; and; 

    3. Is the sole Domestic Partner of the Subscriber, with whom he/she has a close committed and personal relationship, and has been a member of this domestic partnership for the last 12 months; and; 

    4. Agrees to be jointly responsible for the basic living expenses and welfare of the Subscriber; and; 

    5. Is financially interdependent. Financial interdependence is demonstrated by submission of three or more of the following documents: 

    A. a joint mortgage or lease; or; 

    B. a designation of one of the partners as beneficiary in the other partner’s Will or life insurance policy; or; 

    C. a durable property and health care powers of attorney; or; 

    D. a joint title to an automobile; or; 

    E. a joint bank account or credit account; or; 

    F. such other proof as is sufficient to establish economic interdependency under the circumstances of the particular case. 

    Article II – Eligibility for Coverage as Domestic Partner 

    The Subscriber and applicant for coverage as a Domestic Partner will be required to sign an Affidavit of Domestic Partnership. BlueChoice HealthPlan reserves the right to request documentation of any of the foregoing prior to commencing coverage of the Domestic Partner. 

    Article III – Eligibility for Coverage of Children of Domestic Partners 

    To be eligible for Coverage as a Subscriber’s Covered Dependent, a Domestic Partner’s child, who has not been legally adopted by Subscriber, must be living with Subscriber and Subscriber’s enrolled Domestic Partner on a full-time basis in a permanent parent-child relationship. In addition, the child must meet the qualifications of Dependent as described in the Certificate of Coverage. 

    Subscriber and/or Subscriber’s Domestic Partner may be required to furnish written proof of a child’s eligibility for Coverage as a Domestic Partner’s child.

    Article IV – Enrollment of a Domestic Partner and/or Child(ren) of a Domestic Partner 

    An Employee may enroll an eligible Domestic Partner and/or eligible child(ren) of a Domestic Partner during the Employer’s Initial Enrollment Period or during an Open Enrollment period, if applicable. 

    Dependent(s) resulting from the creation of a domestic partnership (as outlined in Article I) must apply for coverage within 31 days after meeting the requirements stated in Article I. Appropriate Premiums must be paid to BlueChoice HealthPlan for such Dependent(s) to have coverage from the date of the domestic partnership. 

    Domestic Partners are not considered to be tax-qualified dependents by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), unless they satisfy specific statutory requirements and the Employee declares the Domestic Partner or their children on the Employee’s tax return. Therefore if the Employee elects Domestic Partner coverage, the IRS may tax the Employee for the value of benefits provided. The Employee should consult their own personal tax advisor to determine how these tax implications affect the Employee. 

    Termination of Coverage of a Domestic Partner and/or Child(ren) of a Domestic Partner 

    In addition to terminating when a Subscriber’s coverage terminates, a Domestic Partner and the children of the Domestic Partner coverage terminates when the domestic partnership is dissolved. An Affidavit of Termination of Partnership must be completed by the Subscriber and submitted to the Employer and the Employer must also send an Enrollment Application and Change form to cancel this person from coverage within 31 days of dissolution. 

    All other Plan termination of coverage provisions apply to a Domestic Partner and the children of the Domestic Partner. 

    Continuation Coverage 

    Under current law, a Domestic Partner and children of a Domestic Partner are not entitled to Continuation of Coverage under COBRA. All other Plan provisions regarding State-mandated continuation of coverage after termination of employment apply. 

    Timothy L. Vaughn 

    President and Chief Operating Officer

    14. Does your law school offer transition-related health benefits including hormone therapy, gender counseling, gender-affirming surgeries, etc. to transgender/nonbinary employees and employees who are undergoing gender transition?
    No
    15. Does your law school offer a student benefit plan including health insurance with nontraditional family planning like assisted reproduction and/or adoptive benefits, and/or any additional benefits such as access to campus facilities?
    No
    16. Does your school offer the same transition-related healthcare benefits to students and their partners/spouses who are transgender/nonbinary or undergoing gender transition?
    No

    Because we do not offer any healthcare benefits to students, we do not offer them to the partners/spouses of our students.

    17. Do all students at your law school have access to on-campus health, counseling and therapy services either through the law school or the larger University?
    No

    The School of Law maintains a contractual agreement with the Medical University of South Carolina Employee and Student Assistance Program which entitles all students and employees of the School of Law access to mental health services and counseling throughout the semester on a free, confidential basis. Services include: individual assessment and counseling; couples counseling (regardless of marital status); and crisis management.

    18. Does your law school provide single-stall and/or multi-stall restrooms available to people of all genders (i.e., gender-neutral restrooms) in each law school building so that transgender/nonbinary people have a safe restroom space?
    No

    Our law library offers single stall gender-neutral restrooms in multiple locations on both floors. The signage says, “All Gender Restroom.” The academic building does not offer gender-neutral restrooms at this time.

    19. If your law school is maintaining gender-segregated (i.e., "Women's Restroom" and "Men's Restroom") restroom stalls, does it have a policy applicable to those facilities which ensures that transgender/nonbinary students/staff/administrators/faculty, as well as anyone who does not meet gender stereotypes, have access to facilities that match their gender identity?
    No
    20. Does your law school have one or more annual LGBTQ+ specific course offerings (e.g., LGBTQ+ Law and Policy, Sexual Orientation and the Law, Gender and the Law (focused on trans-inclusive materials), etc.)?
    Yes
    a. If 'yes,' please list course names:

    The Law School offers a 2-credit hour course entitled Sex, Gender and Identity, last offered in Spring 2020, which covers lesbian, gay, transgender, heterosexual, bisexual, and queer issues.

    21. Does your law school have an active LGBTQ+ law student group that is supported by the administration?
    Yes

    The School of Law has a vibrant and enthusiastic LGBTQ+ law student group called “Alliance for Equality” which enjoys excellence student engagement from our LGBTQ+ community and student-allies, guidance, and support from LGBTQ+ faculty and administration along with our Director of Diversity Initiatives. Alliance for Equality is active in promoting and supporting issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community and frequently partners with other student organizations on relevant events and initiatives.

    22. Does your law school provide funding, including travel support, for LGBTQ+ students to participate in LGBTQ+-focused learning and/or career services opportunities?
    Yes
    a. If yes please provide details and examples of when and how those opportunities have been utilized in the past three years:

    Student members of the Alliance for Equality are eligible to access grants through the School of Law’s Student Bar Association to attend and participate in LGBTQ+ focused learning opportunities throughout the United States. Additionally, the Department of Career Services offers funding and support for applicable students to attend the annual Southeastern Minority Job Fair in Atlanta, GA.

    23. Does your law school have a hate/bias incident policy that faculty, staff/administrators, and students are required to follow?
    Yes
    a. If yes to #23, does that process specifically identify sexual orientation AND/OR gender identity/expression as protected categories?
    Yes, both
    b. If yes to #23, does the policy set out a clear hate bias/incident reporting process for faculty, staff/administrators, and students to utilize if necessary?
    Yes
    24. Does your law school provide mandatory anti-sexual harassment training that explicitly covers same-sex harassment and harassment of transgender/nonbinary people, for all staff/faculty/administrators, at least every three years?
    Yes
    25. Does your law school provide diversity and inclusion training that incorporates robust LGBTQ+ curriculum as well as anti-racism curriculum, at least every three years? NOTE: Please check all that apply.
    Yes, optional for all faculty/staff/administrators
    26. Please describe all additional ways, not identified through your earlier responses, in which your law school works to be safe, inclusive, and welcoming for its LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and administrators:

    Charleston School of Law is committed to equality and fairness. In the Law School’s commitment to maintain a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for its Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Queer, plus, the Law School has events, programs, and discussions. First, in the classroom, professors emphasize the importance of inclusion and diversity and allow students to discuss these issues as they arise in cases, laws, and policies. Second, the Office of Diversity Initiatives focuses on these issues in its programming: (a) “My Gay Child” – a panel discussion with parents of gay children, including the mother of a son (Sean Kennedy) who was killed in Greenville, South Carolina because the perpetrator found out that the victim was gay, as well as a civil rights attorney who has a gay son; (b) Constitution Day – Presentation on Same-Sex Marriage and the Constitution; (c) Safe Zone Training for staff and faculty; (d) “Practicing Law as a Gay Attorney” – a discussion by a Charleston School of Law graduate who is now a Mayor of a town in South Carolina; (e) Presentations by Diversity Fellow, Nick Shalosky – Nick Shalosky, a graduate of Charleston School of Law, was the first openly-gay person to win a popular election in South Carolina. Third, the Director of the Office of Diversity Initiatives, while serving as the Chairperson of the Charleston County Bar Association Inclusion and Diversity Committee, organized a Diversity Seminar inviting a transgender attorney to be the keynote speaker; law students were invited to and attended the seminar. Fourth, Alliance for Equality is a well-known and active organization on campus; Alliance for Equality and the Office of Diversity Initiatives work together in promoting sex, gender, sexual orientation, and identity equality. Alliance for Equality has participated in Charleston Pride (the annual celebration). Fifth, the Dean created the Dean’s Diversity Counsel that includes gay students; those students are encouraged to speak out about discrimination or disparate treatment. Sixth, the Dean is openly gay and does not shy away from mentioning his sexual orientation or his husband even while many gay attorneys are still hesitant to let members of their firms know they are for fear of reprisal. Seventh, and most importantly, Charleston School of Law welcomes all students, staff, and faculty to its community.

    Primary Sidebar

    Survey 2021

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