Civil Rights Compliance
The Civil Rights Compliance Team ensures that all 28 colleges of the Florida College System (FCS) maintain compliance with state and federal laws that protect all persons from discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, marital status, age or disability.
The mission of the Civil Rights Compliance Team is to provide quality and efficient services and technical assistance to the Florida College system to promote access, affordability, and success for all students.
Student Concerns and Complaints
All persons are encouraged to work through the internal complaint and appeal processes at their respective institutions as the first step in filing a complaint. Each college is governed by a Board of Trustees or District Board of Trustees who are responsible for ensuring lawful implementation of complaint procedures according to state statutes and federal regulations.
For more information, visit Concerns & Complaint Process.
Federal Requirements
Methods of Administration Plan
The United States Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) requires each state agency to prepare a Methods of Administration (MOA) Plan and submit biennial reports which describe equity compliance and monitoring activities, as specified in OCR’s 1996 Revised Memorandum of Procedures and Section II. B of the Guidelines.
The Florida Department of Education submits a comprehensive K-20 report with each division completing their respective sections. In addition, the Civil Rights Compliance Team develops an MOA Plan to ensure the Division of Florida Colleges (DFC) and its sub-recipients comply with these civil rights regulations. The DFC will continue to report civil rights activities and findings to the OCR through this biennial report.
Virtual and Onsite Reviews
Annual reviews for civil rights compliance with specific civil rights laws are required under federal regulations. The purpose of the review is to determine if a college’s activities, programs and employment opportunities comply with federal regulations that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex or disability.
The monitoring review is organized into the following categories:
- Administrative requirements
- Recruitment (of students)
- Admission practices
- Counseling/advising
- Financial assistance
- Services for students with disabilities
- Work-study, cooperative education programs, job placement, internships and apprenticeships
- Employment
- Accessibility (as necessary)
Additional Information
- FCS Disability Support Services
- U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
- Florida Commission on Human Relations
Relevant Florida Statutes
- Section 1000.05, Florida Statute: The Florida Educational Equity Act
- Section 1006.71, F.S., Gender equity in intercollegiate athletics
Relevant Florida State Board of Education Rules
- Rule 6A-10.041, F.A.C., Substitution for Requirements for Eligible Students with Disabilities at Florida Colleges and Postsecondary Career Centers
- 6A-19.001 – 6A-19.010, F.A.C., related to educational equity
Relevant Nondiscrimination Laws
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), 34 CFR Part 100
- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), 34 CFR Part 106
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), 34 CFR Part 104
- Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II), 28 CFR Part 35