NIRSA Affirmative Action Plan

I. Introduction

An affirmative action plan is more than a declaration of good intention. It describes a program of action leading toward the accomplishment of specific and measurable results in connection with legal and moral responsibilities of an organization. Two principles are involved: non-discrimination and affirmative action.

Non-discrimination is a principle which applies to all persons, regardless of their age, gender, race, creed, physical ability, or national origin. It assures that persons from all segments of society have an opportunity to compete for all employment benefits and to participate in all member-sponsored programs on the basis of their individual merit. Individual merit should be determined by criteria which are applied equally to all and which do not systematically favor one group over another.

Affirmative action is the active extension of employment and program participation opportunities to populations formerly under-utilized in employment or under-represented in program participation. It will involve vigorous recruitment efforts for professional employment, professional representation within an association and representative programs directed toward women, minorities and people with disabilities.

II. Commitment of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association

The National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association, an organization of recreational sports professionals and member institutions, is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in member-sponsored programs and within the organization itself. Accordingly, it pledges to neither practice nor condone discrimination in any form. The Association commits itself to practice non-discrimination on the basis of diversity related to age, disability, ethnicity, gender, national origin, race, religion and sexual orientation.

III. Affirmative Action Committee

The President shall propose for nomination to the board of directors a list of Association members who would serve as members of the Association's committee on affirmative action. The committee shall have the responsibility of giving advice on policies, reviewing and/or suggesting procedural changes, recommending for adoption affirmative action goals, and handling other Association matters relating to affirmative action and non-discrimination.

IV. Affirmative Action Officer

The President shall appoint one of the Vice Presidents to serve the board of directors as an Affirmative Action Officer. The Affirmative Action Officer shall serve as the consultant to the Association on affirmative action issues.

V. Affirmative Action Plan

The Association's affirmative action plan will include the following areas:

1. Selection of Candidates for Association Offices
   Procedures shall be developed and maintained to provide proportionate representation of women, minorities and persons with disabilities for nomination as candidates for the Association's elected offices.
2. Representation on the Committees of the Association
   Members chosen to serve on and chair the Association's standing and ad hoc committees shall be selected in proportion to the available and proof of women, minorities and others in the Association.
3. Membership Recruitment
   The Association will make a concerted effort to increase its total membership, with special attention given to recruiting women, minorities and persons with disabilities to the Association.
4. Career Opportunities
   The National Center shall maintain an active file on women, minorities and persons with disabilities interested in professional mobility in order to assist member institutions in identifying potential candidates from these groups. Member institutions shall make efforts to advertise all open positions with the Association's career opportunities section.
5. Reports
   Reports in the area of equalization and affirmative action will be prepared on an annual basis by members of the Affirmative Action Committee to assess the current status of such efforts by the Association and member programs.
6. Annual Conference Program Participation
   The selection of members to serve as program participants at the annual conference of the Association shall be based solely upon the quality of content of the presentation.
7. Program Content
   The program of the annual conference shall reflect the needs and interests of the total membership. An opportunity shall exist for all members to make their interests and needs known to the members of the Program Committee. Reports on surveys conducted by the Affirmative Action Committee will be given at the annual conference.
8. Dissemination of the Affirmative Action Plan
   The adopted affirmative action plan shall be published in the NIRSA Newsletter and/or the NIRSA Journal on an annual basis. The affirmative action plan shall be reviewed yearly.

The Affirmative Action Plan shall be reviewed yearly by the Affirmative Action Committee.