Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 43.00
Liaison Sandra Caeiro
Submission Date April 5, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Universidade Aberta
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 3.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Non-Discrimination Statement 

Does the institution have a publicly posted non-discrimination statement? :
No

The non-discrimination statement, including the website URL where the policy is publicly accessible:
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Bias Response Team 

Does the institution have a discrimination response protocol or committee (sometimes called a bias response team) to respond to and support those who have experienced or witnessed a bias incident, act of discrimination or hate crime?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s discrimination response protocol or team (including examples of actions taken during the previous three years):
The University acts in two planes, which may be connected, and usually are: administrative, providing the necessary support to the victim or witness, and in legal terms, exercising disciplinary action or supporting or triggering criminal action. On an administrative level, the victim or witness, in case of being a non-teaching worker (although this also applies to teachers), should report the facts to the superior. The latter, in turn, must report them to the Rector, who enjoys disciplinary power and complaint on behalf of the University. Students may report the situation to the Student Ombudsman or directly to the Rector. In case the superior is the alleged perpetrator of the facts, the victim or witness must report the situation to the Rector. In the event that the Rector is the alleged perpetrator of the facts, the complaint may be made to the Student Ombudsman, without prejudice to whether it should be made directly to the criminal authority. We are talking about illicit acts that are both disciplinary and criminal. Internally, various legal instruments may be used, such as the initiation of a disciplinary procedure, where there is a sufficiently substantiated complaint, or the opening of an investigation to investigate what has happened in a particular service or services. There is a disciplinary regulation applicable to students, which covers this type of situations (see http://portal.uab.pt/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DR-Regulamento-Disciplinar-dos-Estudantes-da-UAb_6nov2013.pdf). There is specific legislation applicable to teachers and non-teachers in disciplinary matters (see http://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=2171&tabela=leis.) Whenever, in the course of a disciplinary proceeding, strong indications are obtained of the practice of the facts referred to or even their evidence, a certificate is drawn up to be sent to the Public Prosecution Office, given the nature of the crimes, without prejudice to the victims or witnesses do it.

Recruitment Programs 

Does the institution have programs specifically designed to recruit students from underrepresented groups?:
No

Does the institution have programs specifically designed to recruit staff from underrepresented groups?:
No

Does the institution have programs specifically designed to recruit faculty from underrepresented groups?:
No

If yes to any of the above, provide:

A brief description of the institution’s programs to recruit students, staff and/or faculty from underrepresented groups:
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Mentoring, Counseling and Support Programs 

Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support, academic support, or other programs to support students from underrepresented groups on campus?:
Yes

Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support or other programs to support staff from underrepresented groups on campus?:
No

Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support or other programs to support faculty from underrepresented groups on campus?:
No

A brief description of the institution’s programs to support students, staff and/or faculty from underrepresented groups:
To support its students with special educational needs (SEN), the Open University (UAb) has the Acessibilities Project. Started in 2008, this project promotes the inclusion and collaboration between students and former students with physical and sensory difficulties of accessing UAb online courses.

Support for Future Faculty 

Does the institution have training and development programs, teaching fellowships and/or other programs that specifically aim to support and prepare students from underrepresented groups for careers as faculty members?:
No

A brief description of the institution’s programs to support and prepare students from underrepresented groups for careers as faculty members:
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Optional Fields 

Does the institution produce a publicly accessible inventory of gender-neutral bathrooms on campus?:
No

Does the institution offer housing options to accommodate the special needs of transgender and transitioning students?:
No

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.