Equity Impact Assessment Rubric

Equity Impact Assessment Rubric
Equity Impact Statements

Equity impact statements are a tool by which University policies can be assessed to 1) ensure they do not have unintended, differential negative impacts on protected groups, and 2) identify, make visible, and incentivize best practices for equity and inclusion.

The process involves assessing a policy to consider potential negative or positive impacts on equity and inclusion, adjusting the policy as needed, and providing an equity impact statement with the revised policy. For new policies where information about impacts is absent or limited, additional monitoring of impacts after the policy is implemented is included in the process.

The person or University unit responsible for drafting, administering, and revising a policy is also responsible for conducting the equity impact assessment, using this standardized rubric.

The intent of this process is to ensure due consideration of potential adverse impacts of University policies, in keeping with the mission of the University to build a collaborative, diverse, and inclusive community where creative ideas, new knowledge, and entrepreneurial achievements can benefit others in our region, the state of Ohio, the nation, and the world.

This process is not intended to prohibit policies that are aligned with the University’s mission (e.g., minimum English language proficiency requirements, access to a lactation/wellness room, safety-based prohibition of candles for religious use in residence hall rooms).

Definitions

Equity and inclusion
BGSU’s Diversity and Belonging Comprehensive Strategy and Plan (page 12) defines these terms:

Equity is the practice of ensuring that personal or social circumstances, such as protected class or intersecting identities, are not obstacles to achieving one’s potential. Equity is reflected in policies and processes which acknowledge that we live in a world where not all people are afforded the same resources, treatment, and opportunity, and works to remedy this fact.

Inclusion is an active process that engages the community to cultivate an environment that sustains and affirms all members, particularly those from historically marginalized or minoritized groups. It is a commitment to distribute privilege and influence across differences and a willingness to act on this commitment.

Protected groups

BGSU’s Non-Discrimination in Employment and Education Policy (No. 3341-5-41) identifies these protected classes:
- Age (40 years of age or older)
- Ancestry
- Color
- Disability
- Gender identity or expression
- Genetic information
- Marital status
- Military status
- National origin
- Pregnancy
- Race
- Religion
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
- Special disabled or protected veteran status
- Any other legally protected characteristic (including status as a parent during pregnancy and immediately after the birth of a child, status as a parent of a young child, and status as a foster parent as those terms are defined in Ohio law)
University policies

The Office of General Counsel keeps a searchable register of all University policies.

The equity impact statement requirement will only apply to formal University policies.
Rubric for Equity Impact Assessment of University Policies
Policy Number and Name *
(e.g., 3341-1-5 Policy on Policy Development)
Responsible Unit *
Policy Administrator *
Please provide the purpose and scope of the policy as described in the policy document *
Who does the policy impact? *

All students Undergraduate students Graduate students International students All faculty Qualified-rank faculty Tenure-track and tenured faculty Adjunct faculty All staff Classified staff Administrative staff Alumni Parents and families of students Volunteers Visitors Others who provide services or act under the name of the university, including contractors, vendors and consultants Other
Which stakeholders have been consulted to help identify potential impacts? *
Have you considered whether this policy as written could lead to bias or unfavorable treatment, or have other adverse impact on a particular protected group? Please explain. *
Have you considered whether this policy as written could create a barrier experienced differentially by members of certain protected groups? Please explain. *
Have you considered whether this policy as written could exclude certain protected groups? Please explain. *
Have you considered whether this policy as written could promote improved access and inclusion and/or contribute to advancing equity? Please explain. *
Based on the assessment described in this rubric, is there a potential adverse differential or unique equity impact of this policy? *

No Yes Uncertain / more information is needed
Please add the following statement to the policy document.

Equity Impact Statement: The policy has been assessed for adverse differential impact on members of one or more protected groups.
Please modify the policy in order to address any potential adverse equity impacts.
Please describe your plan to identify and access the needed information to make your assessment. Indicate whether the policy needs to be implemented first before an accurate assessment can be made. *
Note

BGSU is just beginning the process of establishing equity impact statements as a requirement for new and revised University policies. This initial draft rubric is being piloted. Your feedback will be used to revise the rubric to make it more effective and straightforward to apply.

We ask that you pilot this rubric by applying it to new and revised policies that are being developed by you or your designee as the Policy Administrator. In making your assessment, please consider any information, including qualitative and/or quantitative data, on how groups have been impacted by the policy (or similar existing policies) in prior years. We encourage you to consider the types of information that would be most helpful in making your assessment and how you might collect them. Suggestions for data collection tools and processes may be included in your rubric responses.

Thank you for your efforts!
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Equity Impact Assessment Rubric

Equity Impact Statements

Definitions

Rubric for Equity Impact Assessment of University Policies

Please add the following statement to the policy document.

Please modify the policy in order to address any potential adverse equity impacts.

Note