Special Emphasis Programs

SEPM’s provide advice and assistance to management officials in order to help them meet EEO program goals and objectives.

The SEP goals which are required by law, regulation or Executive Order are to focus on techniques to evaluate management policies, practices and procedures to identify employment barriers to the target group and activities in the USGS work environment which may be discriminatory and to protect their Civil Rights of all employee’s.

The SEP manager’s roles are steadily increasing as efforts to achieve equity, diversity and inclusion increase. The objectives of the Special Emphasis Program are to:

• Increase the number of underrepresented groups in scientific, professional, administrative, and technical occupations;
• Eliminate concentrations of underrepresented groups in single interval series to diversity and create advancement opportunities throughout all occupational levels and all disciplines;
• Encourage the participation of underrepresented in all USGS sponsored programs and activities; and,
• Provide a network of professional support for underrepresented groups.
• Develop good working relationships with employees, management, and others to help eliminate discrimination and develop employment opportunities.
• Planning and implementing cultural awareness activities.
• Liaison between DEO and ERG’s to ensure participation and representation in the execution of various cultural awareness events and activities.

American Indian Alaskan Native Special Emphasis Program

Black Employment Special Emphasis Program

Federal Women's Special Emphasis Program (FWP)

Hispanic Employment Special Emphasis Program (HEW)

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBTQ+) Programs

American Indian Alaskan Native Special Emphasis Program

The goal of the IA/AN special emphasis program is to assist management with recruiting and retaining qualified Native Americans and Alaskan Native employees and afford them equal opportunity for training and advancement. The AI/AN program manager:

• Assists management with the identification and elimination of discriminatory barriers

• Ensures that initiatives are designed to provide direction and resources for a quality, result-oriented program

• Creates an awareness of the need to improve employment of American Indians and Alaskan Natives at all organizational levels

• Networks with community, minority and professional organizations to identify qualified applicants

• Works with Tribal Colleges and Universities to assist with the development of programs that improve the employability of their students

• Monitors the participation of minorities in:

  • Merit promotion actions

  • EEO complaints

  • Personnel activities that impact hiring and development

American Indian Alaskan Native Program Resources

• White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities

• American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)

• Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)

Black Employment Special Emphasis Program

The goal of the BEP is to assist management with recruiting and retaining qualified African Americans and afford them equal opportunity for training and advancement. The BEP manager:

• Assists management with the identification and elimination of discriminatory barriers

• Ensures that initiatives are designed to provide direction and resources for a quality, result-oriented program

• Creates an awareness of the need to improve employment of African Americans at all organizational levels

• Networks with community, minority and professional organizations to identify qualified applicants

• Works with Historically Black Colleges and Universities to assist with the development of programs to improve the employability of their students

• Monitor the participation of minorities in:

  • Merit promotion actions

  • EEO complaints

  • Personnel activities that impact hiring and development

Black Employment Program Resources

• White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities

• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

• National Urban League

• National Association of Black Geoscientist

Federal Women's Special Emphasis Program (FWP)

The FWP is specifically required by Executive Order and Federal regulation. The FWP was established in 1967 by Executive Order 11375. In 1969, Executive Order 11478 integrated the FWP into the Federal sector. The goal of the FWP is to enhance employment and advancement opportunities for women in the Federal government, especially in higher grade levels.

• Creates the legal, regulatory and administrative framework for achieving equal opportunity without regard to gender

• Actively eliminates behaviors, attitudes, customs and habits that have previously denied women entry into certain occupations and high-level positions

• Encourages qualified women to compete for Federal employment and to participate in training programs leading to advancement

• Assists management with recruitment activities

• Ensures that continued efforts are made to use, to the fullest extent possible, the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) of all interested employees

• Ensures that opportunities for upward mobility are identified and initiated

• Designs and assist in activities that will improve the employability of women

• Ensures that initiatives are designed to provide direction and resources for a quality, result-oriented program

• Monitors the participation of women in:

  • Merit promotion actions

  • EEO complaints

  • Personnel activities that impact hiring and development

Federal Women's Program Resources

• National Women's History Project

• Federally Employed Women (FEW)

Hispanic Employment Special Emphasis Program (HEW)

The HEP designation as a special emphasis area is specifically required by Federal regulation. It began with President Nixon's memorandum in 1970 establishing the "16-Point Program." OPM issued further guidance on the program in 1973. The HEP manager:

• Ensures that Hispanics have equal opportunity to compete in all aspects of Federal employment

• Creates an awareness of the need to improve employment of Hispanics at all organizational levels

• Advises management on the unique problems and special concerns of Hispanics relative to Federal employment

• Assists management with the identification and elimination of discriminatory barriers

• Works with Hispanic Serving Colleges and Universities to assist with the development of programs to improve the employability of their students

• Ensures that programs are designed to provide direction and resources for a quality, result-oriented program

• Monitors the participation of Hispanics in:

  • Merit promotion actions

  • EEO complaints alleging race or national origin

  • Personnel activities that impact hiring and development

Hispanic Program Resources

• White House Initiative on Education Excellence for Hispanic Americans

• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)

• League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

• National Council of La Raza (NCLR)

• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)

• Congressional Hispanic Caucus

• Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)

• National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives (NAHFE)

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBTQ+) Programs

The goal of the LGBTQ+ program is help USGS create and maintain a work environment where diversity is valued and celebrated. The LGBTQ+ program manager helps to ensure personnel policies and practices encourage diversity, improve the workplace environment, and eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation. The LGBTQ+ program manager:

• Assists management with the identification and elimination of discriminatory barriers

• Ensures that initiatives are designed to provide direction and resources for a quality, result-oriented program

• Creates an awareness of the employment challenges faced by GLBT employees and applicants

• Monitors and conducts trend analyses on EEO complaints alleging sexual orientation discrimination

LGBTQ+ Resources

• NPS Pride Guide

• American Alliance of Museums

• Center for American Progress