Skip to Main

Federal Contract Compliance

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to equal opportunity in employment for all individuals.

What is Equal Opportunity in the Workplace? 

Equal Opportunity is the concept of providing equal employment opportunity and support for all employees to thrive in their specific roles based on their individual needs. It is providing fair treatment, equal access, and equal opportunity for all employees, while ensuring that the most qualified individuals are hired, retained, and advanced at UT Southwestern Medical Center.  

Our Action Plan

UT Southwestern maintains an annual Action Plan in accordance with federal law and regulations. 

UT Southwestern is considered to be a federal contractor because it is a research institution that receives federal funding through federal contracts. As such, pursuant to federal law and Department of Labor regulations, the University is required to maintain an active documented plan of action outlining UT Southwestern’s programs and efforts to guarantee fair employment practices for all employees and applicants; as well as capture our proactive outreach efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate any barriers to equal opportunity and access on our campus. Such programs include, but are not limited to, internal audit systems, policy review, inter-departmental training and collaboration, expanded community outreach efforts, mentoring programs, and management development.

The Office for Access & Title IX develops and directs this Action Plan for all UTSW locations and serves as a resource in the coordination of UT Southwestern’s fair employment activities.

As required by federal regulations, the UT Southwestern also maintains an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Statement.

Non-Discrimination Policy

UT Southwestern prohibits discrimination and/or harassment in recruitment, employment, promotion, compensation, benefits, or training on any basis prohibited by applicable federal or state law, including:

  • Race
  • Color
  • Relation
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation
  • Gender identity
  • Gender expression
  • Age
  • National origin
  • Citizenship
  • Veteran status
  • Disability
  • Genetic information

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Why is UT Southwestern an Affirmative Action Employer?

    UT Southwestern is a research institution that receives federal funding through federal contracts, thereby making UTSW a federal contractor. As such, the University has developed Affirmative Action Plan(s) (AAP) pursuant to federal law.

  • What is Affirmative Action?

    Affirmative action is a practice that must be taken by covered employers to identify conspicuous imbalances in their workforce and take positive steps to correct and prevent any underrepresentation of protected classes. It is an action to recruit and advance all people, including qualified minorities, women, people with disabilities, and covered veterans. – Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Department of Labor

    Affirmative action comes from Executive Order 11246, as amended, which prohibits federal contractors and federally-assisted construction contractors and subcontractors, who do over $10,000 in government business in one year, from discriminating in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The executive order also requires government contractors to take affirmative action to ensure that equal opportunity is provided in all aspects of their employment, including recruitment, selection, appointment, promotion, training, and related employment areas. – the Department of Labor

  • What is an Affirmative Action Program?

    An affirmative action program is a written management tool designed to ensure equal employment opportunity. Affirmative action programs contain a diagnostic component that includes a number of quantitative analyses designed to evaluate the composition of the workforce and compare it with the composition of the relevant labor pools. Affirmative action programs also include action-oriented goals. –Department of Labor

  • Is an Affirmative Action Program another name for reverse discrimination?

    No. UT Southwestern does not permit individuals to receive favorable treatment or preference in employment decisions based on their race or sex. That would be unlawful discrimination.

    • Affirmative Action does not allow the use of quotas. Quotas are illegal.
    • Affirmative Action is not a requirement to lower employment standards nor to hire unqualified job seekers.
    • Instead, Affirmative Action efforts are designed to evaluate our practices and to remove any barriers that may have limited fair competition between individuals for opportunities on our campus. Our goal is to ensure that all individuals have equal access to employment opportunities and that the most qualified person is always selected.
  • Who benefits from Affirmative Action Programs?

    Everyone benefits from affirmative action programs. UT Southwestern’s Affirmative Action Program evaluates our employment decisions and practices to ensure that every employee and applicant is treated fairly and equitably.

Education & Training

The following links provide information and resources for supervisors and managers on key work areas where Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Affirmative Action (AA) apply.

The Recruitment Process

At UT Southwestern, we believe in providing equal opportunities for all employees and qualified applicants using a fair, consistent, and nondiscriminatory process.

In our highly selective recruitment program, we seek the best candidates in each field. Below is information that may assist you with the hiring process. For further assistance, contact a member of the Talent Acquisition Team.

General Resources for the Recruitment Process

Invitation to Self-Identify

UT Southwestern is proud of the many cultures and diverse backgrounds that make up our UTSW community. Federal law requires UT Southwestern to invite each faculty and staff member (all employees) to voluntarily self-identify.  Please follow these steps to update your personal information:

  1. Log in to PeopleSoft 9.2 with your UT Southwestern ID and password

  2. Click “Personal Details” in Employee Self Service

  3. Update “Ethnic Groups”

  4. Update “Disability”

  5. Update “Veteran Status”

If you have already self-identified, we also invite employees to ensure that correct information has been entered for their race, ethnicity, and protected veteran status. Please consider completing this invitation to voluntarily self-identify to help us fulfill our commitments to equal opportunity and affirmative action and to meet our obligations as a government contractor.

In conjunction with the Department of Labor’s celebration of  National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the agency has posted a short video titled “Disability Inclusion Starts With You.” Encouraging applicants and employees with disabilities to voluntarily self-identify, this public-service video explains the key role that self-identification plays in measuring contractors’ progress toward achieving equal employment opportunity for people with disabilities.

Posters & Notices

The Department of Labor offers posters in a variety of languages about EEO and Pay Transparency:

Back-to top