Employees are being asked to take a voluntary survey to help WSU update its demographic data. This is in response to a federal government request to all contractors, including WSU.
An e-mail with instructions for completing the survey recently was sent to employees.
A copy of that e-mail follows:
Dear Fellow WSU Employee:
I am writing to ask for your help in a University-wide effort to survey WSU’s workforce with respect to personal demographic information. I am contacting all WSU employees and asking them to identify their race, ethnicity, sex, and veteran status, and whether they have a life-altering disability. The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Department of Education, recently encouraged all federal contractors, including WSU, to carry out such a survey.
The reason for this request at this time is that the federal government recently changed the reporting categories for higher education to be similar to those used in the U.S. Census. WSU’s existing stored demographic data needs to be updated.
Submission of this information is voluntary. You may refuse to provide it, and you will not be subject to any adverse treatment. Your responses are confidential and will not become part of your personnel file. They will not be used for any hiring or employment purpose.
You can complete the survey in less than five minutes. By doing so, you will help WSU accurately report the resulting data to state and federal agencies, as legally required. WSU also may report the dataonly in statistical aggregated formto accrediting bodies and grant-making institutions, which sometimes require such information.
This will allow WSU to continue to receive critical funds for financial aid, research, and other priority activities. WSU will not reveal your individual responses or your identity to any person or agency. Only a limited number of WSU employees will have necessary access to the data you provide. All employees should complete the surveyeven if you were hired recently and completed a similar form. Please follow the instructions below to complete the survey.
1. Click on http://oeo.wsu.edu/pages/oeo/survey/ or copy and paste the address into your web browser.
2. Log in with your WSU Network ID and password.
3. Once you complete the survey, click the “Submit this Survey” button.
4. If you do not wish to submit your survey electronically, you can fax the completed survey to 509-335-5483 [Attn: Raúl M. Sánchez] or mail it to the Office for Equal Opportunity, Washington State University, PO Box 641022, Pullman, WA 99164-1022 [Attn: Raúl M. Sánchez].
If you have any questions or you would like to discuss the utilization of the information I am requesting, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can reach me at the Office for Equal Opportunity, French Administration Building, Room 225 in Pullman, by telephone at 509-335-8288, or by email at raulmsanchez@wsu.edu.
Thank you in advance for your participation and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Raúl M. Sánchez, Director
Office for Equal Opportunity
Washington State University
Office for Equal Opportunity
Washington State University