Office of
Affirmative
Action &
Equal
Opportunity

474 Oregon Hall, 5221 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-5221 • (541) 346-3123 • TTY (541) 346-6203

Veterans Preference

Implementation Steps for the Unclassified Hiring Process

1. OAAEO will send a copy of the January 25, 2008 memo to Deans, Directors and Department Heads with attachment regarding the Veterans Preference legislation to the hiring authority, the search committee chair, and designated search contact.  The memo will be sent separately from the NAPO approval letter, once the OAAEO has been notified that the NAPO has final VP approval.  For open applicant pools that do not require a NAPO, a copy of the email and attachment will be sent when the pool is approved for posting.

2. The OAAEO search committee briefing has been revised to include discussion of the Veterans Preference legislation.  Those briefings emphasize proactive development of a methodology for providing the preference or special consideration that will be required for any veterans or disabled veterans in the applicant pool.  Search committees are encouraged to review their proposed methodology with OAAEO if they have any questions.

1. Search committees are advised that if a candidate self-identifies eligible veteran status directly to the search committee or hiring authority, the candidate should be referred to OAAEO to establish eligibility.  The search committee should assume eligibility and ensure that an appropriate methodology has been developed to provide required preference or special consideration.  If a candidate has self-identified directly to the search committee or hiring authority, and provided appropriate supporting documentation, the candidate is under no separate obligation to self-identify via the Applicant Data Request Card.

3. The January 25th memo and attachment referenced in step 1 will be made available in hard copy to members of search committees during search committee briefings.  It also will be posted on the OAAEO web page.

4. Applicant Data Request Cards will be checked on a regular basis, daily if possible, and AAEO Specialist Tomas Hulick Baiza will be advised of any applicants self-identifying as veterans or disabled veterans.

5. Whenever OAAEO is on notice regarding a possibly eligible veteran or disabled veteran in an applicant pool, the search committee chair will be alerted that there is a potentially eligible veteran or disabled veteran in the applicant pool and therefore it is mandatory that the search committee develop a methodology for ensuring the required preference or special consideration. 

1. Search committee chairs are required to contact the OAAEO before review of applications begins to obtain information regarding the demographic composition of the applicant pool.  In addition, they are now advised to contact the OAAEO before review of applications begins for identification of candidates who are or may be eligible for veterans preference based on the Applicant Data Request Card, whether or not supporting documentation has been received.  

6. Compliance Statements have been revised to include an item addressing the new Veterans Preference legislation.  Search committees/hiring authorities must indicate whether any candidate(s) in the pool self-identified as eligible veterans and if so, the selection documentation must include a clear explanation of how the required preference was implemented.  If there are questions about the manner in which the required preference was implemented, OAAEO will follow up with the hiring authority to gain a more complete understanding.