College Degree Requirements and Hiring 1

April 2007 issue

I've been employed in the same position here for 15 years. My immediate supervisor leaves to take another postion. Management approaches my coworker who has been employed for 5 years and offers the job to her in which she accepts the position making her my supervisor. What is so upsetting is that management did not approach me and offer or even discuss the postion with me. I approached another member of management who had no involvement in the decision making and find out the reason why I was not offered the job. The reason give is true, I do not have a college degree. But really how do they know that? I haven't filled out a job application in 15 years. Who says I didn't get a degree during that time. I highly doubt the postion calls for a college degree. I have seen other similar postions posted and a college degree was preferred but not required. I personally think the real reason I was not approached was because of my disability. It's amazing the lack of respect management showed toward me for not approaching me and talking to me directly. I have had other experiences as well and have heard of others who have had problems with this management. I truly believe some people in management do not know the true meaning of diversity. A true shame indeed, it is not the St. Vincent way.

Response

Source: Human Resources
Extension: 2-8500

Response: As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer, DePaul University provides job opportunities to qualified individuals without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, parental status, housing status, source of income or military status, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local EEO laws. In referencing university policy, the purpose of the Recruitment and Selection policy is to establish uniform guidelines for University hiring of staff positions. Positions are posted on the University's careers section of the website. It is the hiring manager's responsibility to work with their assigned Human Resource Recruiter to identify additional sourcing methods as necessary for the successful recruitment of the vacancy. All full-time and part-time employees are encouraged to apply for these openings. An employee that is interested in applying for job vacancies will need to complete the on-line resume process. All qualified internal candidates should receive an interview by the hiring department. The hiring manager is responsible for coordinating all interviews with their assigned Human Resource recruiter. As with external candidates, the Human Resource Recruiter will communicate the official offer of employment.

If the employee feels that he/she has been discriminated and not promoted because of their disability, they should contact Jay Jones in the Office of Diversity to discuss further so that he can ascertain the specifics related to the circumstances of that situation. They can also review the non-discrimination policy on the University Policy and Procedure website to review what the policy covers.