What Are Protected Class Groups?
Protected class groups are groups of people protected from discrimination and harassment. The following protected class groups are legally protected either by law or Michigan Tech policy.
- Race/ethnicity
- Religion
- Color
- National origin
- Age (40 and over)
- Sexual orientation
- Individuals with disabilities
- Veteran status
- Sex
- Height
- Weight
- Marital status
- Gender identity
- Genetic information
Expanded Definitions
Race/Ethnic Origin
Black or African American (not of Hispanic Origin) - A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.
Hispanic or Latino - A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.
Asian - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, for example, China, Japan, Korea, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
American Indian or Alaska Native - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition.
Veterans
Veterans covered under 41 CFR 60-250 of the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA)
Other Protected Veteran: 1.) A person who served in a war with active duty service between December 7, 1941 and April 28, 1952. Or 2.) A person who served in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge, a service medal, or expeditionary medal has been awarded. For a complete list of campaigns refer to VetGuide Appendix A.
Veteran of the Vietnam Era: a person who served on active duty for a period of more than 180 days, any part of which occurred between Feb. 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975 in the republic of Vietnam or between Aug. 5, 1964, and May 7, 1975 in other regions, and who were not dishonorably discharged, or who were released from active duty for a service-connected disability during that period.
"Disabled Veteran" means: a person entitled to disability compensation under law administered by the Veteran's Administration for disability rated at 30 percent or more, or rated at 10 or 20 percent in the case of a veteran who has been determined under 38 U.S.C. 3106 to have a serious employment handicap; or a person whose discharge or release from active duty was for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
Recently Separated Veteran: any veteran during the one-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty.
Veterans covered under 41 CFR Part 60-300 of the Jobs for Veterans Act (JVA)
Disabled Veteran: (1) A veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or (2) A person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
Recently Separated Veteran: Any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service.
Armed Forces Service Medal Veteran: Any veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Other Protected Veteran: a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.