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  • Connect, Share Knowledge, and Succeed Within the LGBTQ+ and Ally Legal Community.

    Climate Survey 2020

    University of Mississippi School of Law

    April 29, 2020

    Question 1 provided each school with a field to confirm or update their nondiscrimination statement.
     
    2. Does your law school intentionally seek out LGBTQ+ prospective students?
    No
    3. Does your law school's welcome packet for admitted students include mention of identity group support for LGBTQ+ students, as well as for students of color or other minorities?
    Yes
    4. Does your school offer students the option to self-identify (also known as "Self-ID") as LGBTQ+ in admissions applications or post-enrollment forms?
    No
    a. If 'yes,' please describe your student Self-ID process:

    In reference to #4: While we do not have a specific question in the admissions application providing applicants the opportunity to self-identify as LGBTQ+, we do have a question about gender identity/expression. We plan to revise our application next cycle in order to provide space for applicants to self-identify as LGBTQ+.

    5. Does your law school offer transgender and nonbinary students who have not legally changed their names the ability to have their name-in-use reflected on their admission applications or post enrollment forms?:
    Yes
    6. Does your law school provide any annual scholarships specifically for LGBTQ+ students?
    Yes
    7. Does your law school actively seek to employ diverse staff/faculty/administrators, including openly LGBTQ+ individuals?:
    Yes
    a. If 'yes,' please detail how and where diversity recruitment efforts are directed:

    During full-time faculty and staff searches, the Law School works with the University EEO office to ensure proper recruitment efforts.  The Law School follows the Search Committee Guide issued by the University’s Department of Human Resources (HR) and the Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance Office, which can be found here: https://eorc.olemiss.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/99/2015/11/HR-and-EORC-Search-Committee-Guide.pdf.  Among other things, this policy requires that:

    • Committee members be diverse in both race and gender;
    • The position be advertised broadly, including in “minority-targeted publications;”
    • The Ad must state: “The University of Mississippi is an EOE/AA/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Title VI/Title VII/Title IX/504/ADA/ADEA employer.”

    The appointment of new faculty and staff at the University cannot move forward until the Office of Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance has verified that the recruitment and selection process is in compliance with all relevant policies.

    All University jobs are posted to (https://www.diversityjobs.com/) and its full network of niche diversity sites. Diversity Jobs  (https://www.diversityjobs.com/) is an extensive network of job boards that gives job seekers free access to thousands of jobs. This network includes ALLLGBTJobs.com (https://alllgbtjobs.com/).

    8. Does your law school conduct a "Self-ID" program which allows staff/faculty/administrators to voluntarily and (if they desire) confidentially identify their gender identity and sexual orientation?:
    Yes
    a. If you answered 'yes' or 'unsure,' please describe your school's process for collecting this data

    We sent out an anonymous survey to all faculty and staff using SurveyMonkey. The survey explained that it was a Self-ID program and that it allows members of our community to self-identify as LGBTQ+ on a voluntary and confidential basis. Out of all of our faculty and staff, we received 23 responses.

    9. How many faculty (not staff/administrators) are employed by your law school in total?
    36
    10. How many self-identified LGBTQ+ faculty are employed by your law school in total?
    3
    Lesbian
    Zero
    Gay
    Zero
    Bisexual/Pansexual
    1
    Transgender /Nonbinary
    1
    Queer or gender/sexual orientation minority
    1
    11. How many self-identified LGBTQ+ faculty of color does your law school currently employ in total?
    Zero
    12. How many staff/administrators (not faculty) are employed by your law school?
    49
    13. How many self-identified LGBTQ+ staff/administrators are employed by your law school in total?
    2
    Lesbian
    Zero
    Gay
    2
    Bisexual/Pansexual
    Zero
    Transgender/Nonbinary
    Zero
    Queer or gender / sexual orientation minority
    1
    14. How many self-identified LGBTQ+ staff/administrators of color does your law school currently employ in total?
    Zero
    15. Does your law school provide employee benefits such as health insurance, family medical leave, parental leave, and nontraditional family planning like assisted reproduction and/or adoptive benefits?
    Yes
    a. If 'yes,' are those employee benefits available on equal terms to employees in same-sex marital/domestic partnership relationships as they are to employees in different-sex marital/domestic partnership relationships?
    Yes
    b. If you answered 'yes' to #15, are those employee benefit plans inclusive of the specific needs of LGBTQ+ employees (i.e., are assisted reproductive benefits offered without the need for extended traditional attempts at pregnancy, are care techniques such as mammograms, prostate exams, hysterectomies, etc. available to employees of all genders, are parental leave policies equal for people of all genders, etc.)?
    Unsure
    c. If you answered 'yes' to #15a AND/OR if you answered 'yes' or 'unsure' to #15b, please summarize or reproduce your policy here:

    With respect to 15, 15a, 15b, and 15c: The University offers health insurance coverage to faculty/staff through the State and School Employees’ Health Insurance Plan.  A legally married spouse, same-sex or different-sex, is deemed a qualifying dependent and eligible for enrollment.  Information about the State Health Plan is available in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) which can be accessed at  http://knowyourbenefits.dfa.ms.gov/publications/.

    A legally married spouse, same-sex or different-sex, is deemed a qualifying dependent and eligible for enrollment. Employees who are legally married, same-sex or different-sex, are also entitled to the same FMLA and paternal benefits. The State Health Plan Summary Plan Description provides information about benefits offered with the Plan, in addition to excluded services.  http://knowyourbenefits.dfa.ms.gov/publications/

    Employees who are legally married, same-sex or different-sex, are also entitled to the same FMLA and paternal benefits.  Policies can be accessed via the following links. 

    •         Leave Guidelines (HRO.BE.600.010)  –  https://policies.olemiss.edu/ShowDetails.jsp?istatPara=1&policyObjidPara=10659144
    •         Personal Leave for Twelve-Month Employee (HRO.BE.600.020)  –  https://policies.olemiss.edu/ShowDetails.jsp?istatPara=1&policyObjidPara=10659146
    •         Major Medical Leave-12-Month Employees (HRO.BE.600.030)  –  https://policies.olemiss.edu/ShowDetails.jsp?istatPara=1&policyObjidPara=10659147
    •         Major Medical Leave-9-Month Employees (HRO.BE.600.040)  –  https://policies.olemiss.edu/ShowDetails.jsp?istatPara=1&policyObjidPara=10659157
    •         Family and Medical Leave Guidelines (HRO.BE.600.050)  –  https://policies.olemiss.edu/ShowDetails.jsp?istatPara=1&policyObjidPara=10659158

    Information is also available on the Types of Leave website.  http://hr.olemiss.edu/benefits/leave/

    The State Health Plan Summary Plan Description provides information about benefits offered with the Plan, in addition to excluded services.  http://knowyourbenefits.dfa.ms.gov/publications/

    The Office of Insurance has asked employer units to not address questions about how benefits are paid, if a specific service may be covered, etc. since we are not involved in the claims process. If you have specific questions about transition-related benefits, please direct them to the Office of Insurance at 866-586-2781.

    16. Does your law school offer transition-related health benefits including hormone therapy, gender counseling, gender-affirming surgeries, etc. to transgender employees and/or employees who are undergoing gender transition?
    Unsure
    a. If 'yes' or ‘unsure,’ please summarize or reproduce your policy here:

    The State Health Plan Summary Plan Description provides information about benefits offered with the Plan, in addition to excluded services. http://knowyourbenefits.dfa.ms.gov/publications/

    The Office of Insurance has asked employer units to not address questions about how benefits are paid, if a specific service may be covered, etc. since we are not involved in the claims process. If you have specific questions about transition-related benefits, please direct them to the Office of Insurance at 866-586-2781.

    17. Does your law school offer a student benefit plan including health insurance with nontraditional family planning like assisted reproduction and/or adoptive benefits, and/or any additional benefits such as access to campus facilities?
    No
    18. Does your school offer the same transition-related healthcare benefits to students and their partners/spouses who are transgender or undergoing gender transition?
    No
    a. If 'yes,' please summarize or reproduce your policy here:

    With respect to question 18, Law students are not covered by health insurance plan.

    19. Do all students at your law school have access to on-campus health, counseling and therapy services either through the law school or the larger University?
    Yes
    a. If 'yes,' are your school's on-campus health care providers trained to ensure they can provide culturally and clinically competent care to LGBTQ+ patients, particularly transgender and non-binary patients?
    Yes
    b. If you answered 'yes' or 'unsure' to #19a, please provide the basis for your answer (i.e., counseling center language, etc.):

    Our counseling center espouses a philosophy of acceptance and respect, compassion and support for [students]. Also, there is a UNITAS (LGBT) Counseling Group.

    20. Does your law school provide single-stall restrooms available to people of all genders in each law school building?
    Yes
    a. If 'yes,' please describe how the single-stall restroom(s) is/are identified (i.e., what does the signage say, is it identified on building maps and online resources), the number of single-stall restrooms available in each law school building, and whether these are accessible for people with disabilities in each building or floor

    The Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on LGBTQ Affairs identified restroom 1118 as the most private restroom for any trans student. The identified procedure is for a person to check out a key for the room from office 2065.

    Go to the Campus Map and [on the left] select Services. Then, select Health & Safety. Finally, select Restrooms. At this point, you will be able to see private restrooms in any building on campus that has one.

    Link to All Gender Restrooms: https://lgbtq.olemiss.edu/all-gender-restrooms-at-um/

    21. Does your law school have a restroom policy applicable to gender-segregated (i.e., "Women's Restroom" and "Men's Restroom") facilities which ensures that transgender students/staff/administrators/faculty have access to facilities that match their gender identity?
    No
    22. Does your law school have one or more annual LGBTQ+ specific course offerings (e.g., LGBTQ+ Law and Policy, Sexual Orientation and the Law, Gender and the Law (focused on trans-inclusive materials), etc.)?
    Yes
    a. If 'yes,' please list course names:

    Gender and the Law was offered in 2018-2019 and will be offered again in 2020-2021.

    23. Does your law school have an active LGBTQ+ law student group that is supported by the administration?
    Yes
    24. Does your law school provide funding, including travel support, for LGBTQ+ students to participate in LGBTQ+-focused learning and/or career services opportunities?
    Yes
    a. If 'yes,' please provide details and examples of when and how those opportunities have been utilized in the past three years:

    We provided funding for 2 students to attend Lavender Law in 2019. Also, OUTlaw is funded by our Student Bar Association for events and programs.

    25. Does your law school have a hate/bias incident policy that faculty, staff/administrators, and students are required to follow?
    Yes
    a. If 'yes' to #25, does that process specifically identify sexual orientation AND/OR gender identity/expression as protected categories?
    Yes, both
    b. If 'yes' to #25, does the policy set out a clear hate bias/incident reporting process for faculty, staff/administrators, and students to utilize if necessary?
    Yes
    26. Does your law school provide mandatory anti-sexual harassment training that explicitly covers same-sex harassment and harassment of transgender/nonbinary people, for all staff/faculty/administrators, at least every three years?
    Yes
    27. Does your law school provide diversity and inclusion training that incorporates robust LGBTQ+ curriculum as well as anti-racism curriculum, at least every three years? NOTE: Please check all that apply.
    Yes, mandatory for all faculty/staff/administrators
    Yes, mandatory for all students
    a. If you selected 'other,' please describe your diversity and inclusion training options:

    With respect to questions 25-27: Our law school is part of a larger university that has a Bias Incident Response Team. The Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) is an educational, non-judicial team that provides members of the University of Mississippi community an opportunity to receive education, support, and appropriate resolution in response to bias-related incidents.

    Bias-related incidents are defined as threats or acts of harassment or intimidation, whether verbal, written or physical, which are directed against a person because of that person’s age, color, ability, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), socioeconomic status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran status, family medical or genetic makeup or information, intellectual perspective, criminal background, and potentially other identities or identifiers.

    Participation by all parties in the BIRT process is voluntary. If a member of BIRT identifies a situation in which there is a possible violation of the University of Mississippi’s policies or the law, the information will be transferred to the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, University Police Department, and/or Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance (EORC) for investigation and possible adjudication. BIRT is not a disciplinary process and does not function in lieu of any disciplinary or complaint processes within or outside of the University.

    To bring a bias-related incident to our attention, please complete this reporting form. Reports submitted anonymously are accepted, but may limit BIRT’s ability to offer support. If you have questions, you may also e-mail diversity@olemiss.edu or call Office of Diversity and Community Engagement at 662-915-2933. For immediate assistance or emergencies, please contact the University of Mississippi’s Department of Police and Campus Safety at 662-915-7234.

    Training is required at the time of employment and required for Search Committee Members.We encourage Faculty, Staff and Students to participate in the Allies Training workshop facilitated by the Center for Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement. Allies training is a 2.5 to 3-hour workshop that aims to: 

    1) encourage foundational understanding of LGBTQ+ definitions, concepts and terms  relating to sexual orientation and gender identities, 

    2) introduce campus and state-level issues and concerns that impact individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and/or questioning/queer, and     

    3) model how to be an effective and informed ally to those communities.

    28. Please describe all additional ways, not identified through your earlier responses, in which your law school works to be safe, inclusive, and welcoming for its LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and administrators:

    Our university also has M-Pride for student involvement and a city-wide Oxford-Pride (https://www.oxfordmspride.rocks/) and OutOxford which is supported by the university’s Sarah Isom Center for Gender Studies (https://sarahisomcenter.org/).

    Primary Sidebar

    Survey 2020

    • Union University, Albany Law School
    • Boston University School of Law
    • Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School
    • Brooklyn Law School
    • California Western School of Law
    • Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law
    • Capital University Law School
    • Case Western Reserve University School of Law
    • City University of New York School of Law
    • Creighton University School of Law
    • Drexel University, Thomas R. Kline School of Law
    • Elon University School of Law
    • Emory University School of Law
    • Florida International University College of Law
    • Fordham University School of Law
    • George Washington University Law School
    • Gonzaga University School of Law
    • Indiana University, Maurer School of Law
    • Lincoln Memorial University, Duncan School of Law
    • Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center
    • Loyola Marymount University, Loyola Law School
    • Michigan State University College of Law
    • Mitchell Hamline School of Law
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    • Northeastern University School of Law
    • Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law
    • Penn State Dickinson Law
    • Penn State University, Penn State Law
    • Roger Williams University School of Law
    • Santa Clara University School of Law
    • Seattle University School of Law
    • South Texas College of Law Houston
    • Southern Illinois University School of Law
    • Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law
    • Southern University Law Center
    • Southwestern Law School
    • St. John’s University School of Law
    • Stetson University College of Law
    • Temple University, James E. Beasley School of Law
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    • University of Akron School of Law
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