Proceedings of the Board of Regents (1960-1963)

646

MARCH MEETING, 1962

Nondiscrimination
Provisions of
Government Contracts: Reply to
Compliance Report

5. STATE AND PUBLIC SERVICES
From Industry and Individuals
Forney W. Clement Memorial Fund
Source: Kiwanis Clubs of Michigan
Total: $21,330.00
TOTAL, STATE AND PUBLIC SERVICES..............$21,330.00
6. ADMINISTRATIVE AND SERVICE ACTIVITIES
From Industry and Individuals
Harlan Hatcher Fund
Source: Miscellaneous donors
Total: $900.00
TOTAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND SERVICE ACTIVITIES......$900.00
The Vice-President in charge of business and finance filed a progress
report on plant extension. He said that the University Hospital Clinical
Research project should be completed by the end of April; that work
on the Physics and Astronomy Building and on the Kresge Hearing
Research Institute was moving ahead satisfactorily; that work on the
Thompson Street Parking Structure has begun; and that the architects
are now working on detailed drawings and specifications for the Research Activities Building and the Research Administration Building.
The Vice-President in charge of business and finance reported for
the information of the Regents on the receipt of a Compliance Report
under the Nondiscrimination Provisions of U. S. government contracts.
He read section 25 of the report, "Employment by Race, Occupation,
and Sex." He read the following proposed answer to section 25 of the
report and to the report as a whole:
25. EMPLOYMENT BY RACE, OCCUPATION, AND SEX
The University has approximately 10,253 employees. The other requested
statistics for this section of Part III are not available.
The Regents of The University of Michigan is a Constitutional Corporation of
the State of Michigan charged by the people of the State with the control and
management of the University. In this capacity it has enacted bylaws for the
operation and the government of the University.
Section 2.14 of the Bylaws for The University of Michigan provides as follows:
"Policy on Nondiscrimination. The University shall not discriminate against
any person because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, or ancestry.
Further, it shall work for the elimination of discrimination (1) in private
organizations recognized by the University and (2) from non-University sources
where students and the employees of the University are involved."
In implementing this bylaw and the philosophy which it represents, employing
units of the University do not maintain records that distinguish one person from
another on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, or ancestry.
In our opinion, the maintenance of such records is inconsistent with the bylaw and
the long-standing philosophy which indicates that these distinctions have no place
at the University.
For many decades the University has maintained a firm and positive policy of
nondiscrimination. This policy has been examined from time to time and, in our
opinion, has been most effective and appropriate for an institution of this type.
It is extremely doubtful that any change in our present policy would support to
any greater extent the principle of nondiscrimination. Consequently, the University
does not have this information available.
It was the consensus that this answer was an excellent one. Regent
Sorenson said, "Philosophically this answer is ahead of federal action."