Maintaining compliance with existing laws and regulations, while also staying updated on those that are added or modified, requires on-going efforts and commitments.

Hope College manages compliance in a decentralized manner, allowing appropriate campus experts to maintain oversight of compliance and regulations that impact their work.

The campus compliance officer serves to help track the various laws and regulatory requirements and the employees leading compliance in each area, determine if there are areas in need of additional work or leadership, and provide compliance-related information and updates to the Protecting the Mission Committee of the Board of Trustees.

Notice of Non Discrimination

Hope College adheres to all federal and state civil rights laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination in private institutions of higher education.

Hope College affirms the dignity of all persons as made in the image of God. Hope College is committed to being a welcoming, vibrant and caring academic community where academic excellence and the pursuit of knowledge are strengthened by our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; and grounded in the historic Christian faith, where the full humanity of all may flourish in an environment in which there is room for different perspectives that bring people together. It is the policy of Hope College not to discriminate on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, familial status, genetic information, height, national origin, race, religion (except in the event of a bona fide occupational qualification), sex (including gender expression, gender identity, pregnancy, sexual orientation), theological perspectives (e.g., conservative, progressive, traditional), veteran status, weight or any other legally protected attribute, status or characteristic.

Our commitment to an equitable and inclusive place of learning, living, and working together, and to prevent discrimination and harassment, is the responsibility of all members of the Hope community.

This policy covers nondiscrimination in all the College’s programs and activities, including employment, admissions, and access to educational opportunities.

The following individual has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the College’s nondiscrimination policies:

Senior Director of Equity and Compliance
Office of Equity and Compliance
251 Anderson-Werkman
616.395.6816

For further information, you can contact the local Office for Civil Rights at:

Office for Civil Rights (Cleveland Office), U.S. Department of Education
1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 325
Cleveland, OH 44115-1812
216.522.4970

Here is a link to a video from the U.S. Department of Education: How to File a Complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR)

Resources

We frequently consult several resources to accomplish this work.

The Higher Education Compliance Alliance provides a detailed and thorough compliance matrix, including links to statutes, regulations and additional resources. The compliance alliance was created by the National Association for College and University Attorneys (NACUA), in partnership with 30 other higher education associations.

The Catholic University of America and the American Council on Education have a Campus Legal Information Clearinghouse available for public use.

Policy Updates

Policies currently under review or being created include:

• Interim Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Nondiscrimination Policy (questions can be directed to Taylor Sinclair)