The Office for Access and Equal Opportunity (AEO) advances Norfolk State University’s dedication to cultivating an equitable, inclusive, and secure environment for education and employment. Grounded in institutional integrity, this office functions as the university's central authority for civil rights compliance, accountability, and conflict resolution. Our department operates under federal mandates designed to protect the integrity of the Spartan community, by impartially accessing incoming reports to determine jurisdictional policy application.
AEO executes formal investigations utilizing Board of Visitor’s Policy 4 or 5 (if applicable) to ensure an equitable and fact finding mechanisms are practiced. AEO’s goal is to remedy discrimination and harassment by implementing definitive corrective interventions, supportive measures, and interim measures to effectively address prohibited conduct, prevent recurrence, and assist in the resolution of hostile environments.
Discrimination, harassment and retaliation based on a person’s age (40 years or older), color, disability, genetic information, gender identity, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation or veteran status is prohibited. All applicants, employees, students and other individuals who participate in university or university-sponsored programs or activities and/or who conduct university business, on- or off-campus, are provided protections under Board of Visitor’s Policy 4 and Policy 5.
Discrimination is defined under BOV Policy #4 as "inequitable treatment by NSU of a person based on one or more of that person’s protected characteristics or statuses, excepting any treatment permitted or required by law."
Harassment is unwelcome behavior that creates a hostile, intimidating, or offensive environment for another person based on their protected status.
Protected statuses include:
- Age (40 or Older)
- Color
- Disability
- Gender identity
- Genetic Information
- Ethnic or National Origin
- Marital Status
- Military Status
- Race
- Religion
- Sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or pregnancy-related medical conditions)
- Sexual Orientation
- Veteran Status