Western New Mexico University, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. Western New Mexico University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race/ethnicity, color, national origin, age, spousal affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, medical condition, disability, religion, pregnancy, genetic information, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Accessibility Plan

Accessibility Action Plan

Policies & Reports

Office of Accessibility Services

Affirmation Action Plan

The Regents of Western New Mexico University pledge full support and commitment to the University’s Affirmative Action Plan, which provides for equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, pursuant to Executive Order 11246; disability, pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and veterans status, pursuant to the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Act of 1974, as amended.

The University will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, or status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era, recently separated veteran or other protected veteran in regard to any position for which the employee or applicant is qualified.

The University will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed and that employees are treated during employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Such action shall include, but is not limited to, the following: employment, upgrading, demotion, transfer, recruitment, recruitment advertising, layoffs, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training and termination of employment.

The University will take affirmative action to employ, advance in employment and otherwise treat qualified individuals with disabilities without discrimination based on their physical or mental disability in all employment practices including, but not limited to, the following: recruitment, hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, job assignments, training, leaves of absence, fringe benefits, layoffs, and termination of employment.

The University will take affirmative action to employ, advance in employment and otherwise treat qualified individuals without discrimination based on their status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era, recently separated veteran or other protected veteran in all employment practices including, but not limited to, the following: recruitment, hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, job assignments, training, leaves of absence, fringe benefits, layoffs, and termination of employment.

The University will make reasonable accommodation for the religious practices and observances of employees and applicants for employment, in conformance with applicable law. The University will also make reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans, both applicants and employees, in conformance with applicable law. The University has appointed an Officer for Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Programs: Telephone number 575-538-6025. The mailing address for the AA/EEO Officer is: Western New Mexico University, P.O. Box 680, Silver City, New Mexico 88062.

The AA/EEO Officer reports directly to the President of the University on AA/EEO matters and is responsible for monitoring and reviewing the personnel actions and procedures to ensure that the Affirmative Action Programs and Equal Employment Opportunity policies and objectives are followed. The University urges applicants for employment and employees who believe that they have been discriminated against, harassed or retaliated against for reporting unlawful discriminatory conduct or harassment to file a complaint with the Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Officer: 1000 West College Avenue/P.O. Box 680, Silver City, NM 88061; Telephone Number 575-538-6025.

The University has policies and procedures in place for reporting, investigating and resolving complaints by employees and applicants for employment of unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Retaliation against applicants or employees who report unlawful discriminatory conduct, file a complaint, or cooperate in an investigation or resolution of a complaint of discrimination is prohibited. All University employees need to be aware that discrimination, harassment and retaliation for reporting unlawful discriminatory conduct are prohibited. Employees who engage in such conduct will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, in accordance with University policies.

Reasonable Accommodations Policy

Western New Mexico University is committed to the recognition and the proactive pursuit of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The University makes reasonable accommodations to self-identified employees and students and prospective employees and students with disabilities/serious medical conditions unless such accommodations have the end result of fundamentally altering a program or service or placing an undue burden on the operation of the University as defined by policy. Qualified students, employees or program users with disabilities should contact the office of Student Accessibility Services for information regarding accommodations in the employment and/or academic setting.

Eligibility Statement

To be eligible for academic accommodations at Western New Mexico University you must have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and be enrolled in one or more hours of study in WNMU courses.

The Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act provides for equal opportunity to persons with disabilities. To be protected under the ADA, you must be determined to:

have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; or
have a record of such an impairment; or
be regarded as having such an impairment.

If a disability exists, reasonable appropriate accommodations are determined to create equal opportunity.

Accessibility Notice

An individual who encounters an accessibility issue related to University facilities should contact the Office Wellness and Accessibility Services. Please be prepared to provide information about the accessibility issues, including information about the physical location of the reported accessibility issue. An individual who encounters an accessibility issue with our website should also contact the Office Wellness and Accessibility Services and provide a description of the page creating the barrier and the accessibility issue. The Office of Wellness and Accessibility Services will work with the corresponding office to correct the accessibility issue. Please provide this information to Wellness and Accessibility by calling (575) 538-6277, by email accessibility@wnmu.edu or visit the office in the Global Resource Center room 103.

The University provides accessibility to campus community members and visitors accessing the campus for various events such as athletic events, speakers or artistic performances. For information on ticketing, accessible seating, assistive listening devices, or parking, contact the Office of Venue and Event Management (575) 538-6161. We ask for a notice of at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the event when requesting access for programs, events, and general services.

The planning of any campus event should include preparation for students, employees, and visitors with disabilities that may attend. Please contact the Office of Wellness and Accessibility Services for assistance in planning campus events. Events should be scheduled in an accessible space and event organizers should include an accessibility notice and contact information for the Office of Wellness and Accessibility Services in event announcements. (575) 538-6277 or by email at accessibility@wnmu.edu

Confidentiality Statement

WNMU recognizes that student disability records contain confidential information and are to be treated as such. Therefore, documentation of a student’s disability is maintained in a confidential file and is considered part of the student’s education record. Information related to a disability may be disclosed only with the permission of the student or as permitted by the university’s student records policy and federal law. At the same time, however, a student’s right to privacy must still be balanced against the university’s need to know the information in order to provide requested and recommended services and accommodations. Therefore, in the interest of serving the needs of the student, the provision of services may involve Student Accessibility Services staff disclosing disability information provided by the student to appropriate university personnel participating in the accommodation process. The amount of information that may be released is determined case by case, and will be made in accordance with the university’s policy on student records.

Appeal Procedures for Accessibility Services

If a student is not granted their requested accommodations due to the reasonable accommodation policy and feels the decision does not best serve their educational needs, the student has the right to submit an appeal for the decision. The appeal must be in writing addressed to the Office of Wellness and Accessibility Services and must be submitted within ten (10) business days of the accommodation decision. General dissatisfaction with an accommodation decision is not grounds for an appeal. An appeal for an accommodation decision must be based on one or more of the following grounds:

There was a procedural error made during the accommodation review process that substantially impacted the outcome of the decision (e.g. the student was not given an opportunity to participate in an “interactive process,” or the collaborative effort to arrive at a reasonable accommodation)
There was a substantive error (such as misunderstanding of the accommodation request) made during the accommodation review process that substantially impacted the outcome of the decision

Once the appeal has been submitted, the WAS office will reach out to the student about the appeal to revisit possible solutions or alternatives for the accommodation need. Once a decision is made, if the student still does not agree with the decision, they will need to submit a second appeal to the Vice President of Compliance and Communications within ten (10) business days of the decision from the WAS office. The appeal should include information about the student’s attempts to work with the Wellness and Accessibility Services office and a justification for approving the request. The VPCC will review the appeal and make a final determination. The VPCC shall provide a written copy of the decision to the student and WAS. The student has no right to appeal to the VPCC decision.

If the student may file a discrimination complaint to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX the Report it! Link provided here: https://reportit.wnmu.edu/report/ if the student believes discrimination on the basis of a disability has occurred in any step of this process.