November 18, 2020 (WASHINGTON INSIDER ALERT) - On Monday, November 16, CUPA-HR met virtually with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)'s Vice Chair Keith Sonderling to discuss workforce issues the higher education community faces during the COVID-19 pandemic and as we head into 2021.
Participants joining the meeting included CUPA-HR’s President and CEO Andy Brantley, CUPA-HR Board of Directors Chair Susan Norton, Past Chair Marie Williams, Chair-Elect Jeff Herring, CUPA-HR’s Senior Vice President, Rob Shomaker, and CUPA-HR’s government relations team. Vice Chair Sonderling was also joined by his Chief of Staff, Greg Proseus, and his Chief Counsel, Brad Kelley.
During the meeting, CUPA-HR voiced a variety of concerns and challenges that higher ed institutions have already faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and anticipated challenges they expect to face come the new year. Topics discussed included compliance under the Americans with Disabilities Act and its intersection with COVID-19, issues relating to wage transparency and gender discrimination, and the critical role of diversity training for college campuses across the country. Sonderling was extremely receptive to the concerns presented by CUPA-HR and has committed to work with the higher education community to promote compliance.
CUPA-HR appreciates Vice Chair Sonderling’s time and commitment to the higher education workforce, and we look forward to continuing our work with him and the EEOC to ensure higher education achieves the highest standard of workplace excellence.