University of Iowa updates policies to protect more people

IOWA CITY — The University of Iowa has updated its policies and non-discrimination statement to protect more people — adding religion, pregnancy, genetic information, and military service to the list of categories afforded institutional protections.

Before the change, the UI's anti-harassment policy, policy on violence, and non-discrimination statement did not consistently include those categories throughout. For example, the violence policy was added to all the new categories, while the anti-harassment policy and non-discrimination statement already included genetic information, but both needed to add pregnancy as a protected category.

The changes, made effective May 18, also rephrase 'veteran status' references to 'status as a U.S. veteran.'

The added categories reflect issues increasingly facing the community, state, and nation, and the UI of late has seen a rise in overall complaints to its Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity.

During the 2014 budget year, the office received 73 complaints alleging violation of UI policies — one fewer than in the 2013 budget year, but 20 more than in 2010 and 34 more than in 2011, according to the office's most recent annual report.

The 73 complaints in 2014 were based on 114 allegations of discrimination, harassment, or other policy violations, the most prevalent being disability discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and race discrimination.

The majority of complainants were filed by staff members, students, or people formerly affiliated with the university, according to the annual report.

The report didn't identify any cases specifically related to genetic information, but the issue of discrimination based on genetic testing has gained more attention nationally. The National Human Genome Research Institute reports that more tests capable of determining DNA differences affecting our health are emerging and will become 'a routine part of health care in the future.'

That will allow providers to better detect, treat, and prevent disease, according to the institute, but it also could lead to discrimination — specifically among health insurers or employers.

'A health insurer might refuse to give coverage to a woman who has a DNA difference that raises her odds of getting breast cancer,' according to the institute. 'Employers also could use DNA information to decide whether to hire or fire workers.'

A Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act of 2008 was signed into federal law in May 2008 to protect Americans from unfair treatment because of DNA differences potentially affecting their health.

As required by federal law, the university's non-discrimination statement must be included in all departmental publications, including brochures, pamphlets, manuals, guidebooks, and websites. that describe or invite people to participate in UI programs.

According to an email sent Wednesday to UI faculty and staff from several administrators — including Georgina Dodge, chief diversity office and associate vice president, and Tom Rocklin, vice president for student life — the statement on websites should be updated 'as soon as possible,' while printed documents can be updated at their next scheduled printing.

l Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com