Affirmative Action Planning & Programming

Self-identifying is the voluntary disclosure of various demographic information, such as sex, race, ethnicity, disability status, and veteran status. When you choose to self-identify, you are ensuring that you are represented in the bigger picture of the UW–Madison workforce.

UW–Madison is a federal contractor and is subject to federal laws and regulations pertaining to affirmative action, including Executive Order 11246 (as amended), Sections 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended), and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (as amended). UW–Madison is required by these laws and regulations to collect and analyze employee demographic information. Failure to comply with federal affirmative action regulations could result in conciliation agreements (e.g., monetary back pay) or even the loss of eligibility to receive federal contracts, including federal research funding, which could impact critical components of the University’s work and mission. When used, data will not identify any specific individual.

No. Self-identifying is completely voluntary. However, we hope you will participate. Self-identifying gives us the most accurate and complete information for mandatory federal reporting purposes, and to promote an inclusive workforce. We deeply appreciate your willingness to self-identify.

You can review and update your information at any time in Personal Information in MyUW. We also acknowledge that the demographic information the University is required to collect may change over time; you can update your information accordingly. Doing so ensures we have the most up-to-date and accurate information.

UW–Madison uses employee and applicant self-identification information to fulfill federal reporting requirements, monitor, assess the workforce, and personnel activities (including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion, and compensation), as required by federal laws and regulations. When used, data will not identify any specific individual and is not used in employment decisions.

Employee demographic information is confidential information and is classified as sensitive data. Only employees on a need-to-know basis will access this information.

No. Your self-identification information will be kept confidential and will not be used in making employment decisions. It is not stored in employment files or records. You will not be subject to any adverse impact for providing your demographic information.

A two-part question in “Ethnic Groups” asks first about whether you identify as “Hispanic or Latino” and then about your race.

Federal government considers “Hispanic or Latino” a national origin (ethnicity) category, not a race category. “Hispanic or Latino” is defined as a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.

The current federal race categories are:

• American Indian or Alaska Native: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community attachment.
• Asian: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian Subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• Black or African American: A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
• Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
• White: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.

You can select more than one race category.

When federal reporting requires the use of mutually exclusive race and ethnicity (non-overlapping) categories, individuals who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino are reported in the “Hispanic” category, regardless of race. Those who report two or more races and do not indicate Hispanic or Latino heritage are reported in the “two or more races” category.

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities”. The “Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability” form includes a list of conditions that may be considered a disability. Please note this is not a complete list of possible disabilities. You will not be asked to disclose a specific disability when you self-identify.

Self-identifying as a person with a disability is separate from requesting a disability accommodation. Self-identifying as a person with a disability is also not required in order to request a disability related accommodation. To make a disability accommodation request, contact your divisional disability representative (DDR).

Disability self-identification is voluntary. You also have the option of choosing “I do not want to answer.” Your disability self-identification information will be kept confidential and will not be used in making employment decisions. You will not be subject to any adverse impact based on whether or not you self-identify as a person with a disability.

Under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), as amended, “protected veterans” include the following four categories:

• Disabled veteran: A veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
• Recently separated veteran: Any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran’s discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
• Active-duty wartime or campaign badge veteran: A veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
• Armed Forces service medal veteran: A veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.