Affirmative Action Definitions

American Indian or Alaskan Native – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America, and who maintains a tribal affiliation or community attachment.

Asian – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asian, the Indian subcontinent including for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Black/African American – A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.

Hispanic – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central or South America, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. It does not include persons from Portuguese speaking cultures such as Portugal or Brazil.

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

Persons with a Disability – For affirmative action data reporting purposes, people with disabilities are individuals with a permanent, physical, mental, or sensory impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. The impairment must be both permanent and material rather than slight, but not necessarily require a workplace accommodation. An impairment that is episodic or in remission is still a disability if it would substantially limit a major life activity when active. The determination of whether an impairment substantially limits a major life activity shall be made without considering temporary improvements made through mitigating measures such as medication, therapy, reasonable accommodation, prosthetics, technology, equipment, or adaptive devices (but not to include ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses).

Special Disabled Veteran – A person who is entitled to compensation under laws administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for disability (a) rated at 30 percent or more, (b) rated 10 or 20 percent in the case of a veteran who has been determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to have a serious employment handicap or (c) a person whose discharge or release from active duty was for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty. Applicant must provide letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs confirming handicap status as it relates to item (b).

Vietnam-Era Veteran – A person who served on active duty for a period of more than 180 days, any part of which occurred between February 28, 1961*, and May 7, 1975, and was discharged or released from active duty with other than a dishonorable discharge; or who was discharged or released from active duty for a service connected disability if any part of the active duty was performed between August 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975. *Service between February 28, 1961 and August 14, 1964 must have been performed within the Republic of Vietnam.

White/Caucasian – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.