New York University (NYU) is committed to a diverse and inclusive campus where all individuals feel valued through the University’s educational programs, activities, and services.  Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits recipients of federal financial assistance from discriminating based on national origin by, among other things, failing to provide meaningful access to educational programs, activities and services for individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).  A LEP person is an individual who does not speak English as their primary language and has limited ability to read, speak, write and understand English.  The University has taken reasonable steps in this Plan to ensure that individuals with LEP will be able to communicate, either through written or oral language services, with members of our staff.    

If you are an individual with LEP and are in need of assistance in order to access the University’s educational programs, activities and services, we invite you to engage with the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) to identify available resources related to free language assistance.   Please contact OEO via email at equal.opportunity@nyu.edu or by calling 212-998-2370 to engage in a request for language services.

1. Identifying Individuals Who Need Language Assistance  

NYU is a broad and diverse community that includes faculty and researchers, administrators and staff, students, interns and volunteers, and others who perform activities or provide services on behalf of the University, including consultants, vendors, and contractors.  As a global university, we serve a diverse community of individuals from varied backgrounds who speak multiple languages. 

Individuals in need of language assistance to access the University’s educational programs, activities, and services will be referred to the appropriate resources on campus for further language assistance, as detailed in this Plan. Additional external resources to identify language needs can be accessed and are available via the U.S. government LEP webpage. 

2. Language Assistance Measures and Available Resources

Upon receiving a request for language assistance, the OEO will engage in an interactive process.  The purpose of this process will be to understand the needs of the individual with LEP and, based on the circumstances, to identify any available resources and reasonable assistance measures.  These free resources will include, but are not limited to, providing Communication Access Real-Time Captioning (CART) services, in-person Interpretation, American Sign Language interpreting, and translation services, either oral or written.  Examples of documents that may require oral or written translation include, but are not limited to, application forms for employment, complaint forms, and intake/information forms.  

The OEO will not rely on web-based translation services. A LEP person may choose to use their own interpreter or translator (at their own expense) in lieu of or in addition to the free language services offered by the University.  Special care will be taken to document that the use of their own interpreter or translator was voluntary and that the University otherwise offered free language assistance. 

3.  Distribution of Plan and Training Resources for Employees  

The University will provide notice to its employees of the language access procedures set forth in this Plan.  Such notice will be provided to new employees during onboarding, and will be prominently posted on multiple NYU webpages for existing employees.  Such notice will include information for employees working or otherwise interacting with LEP persons on the process for accessing and requesting language assistance services through the OEO. This information will include how to identify language needs and how to work or otherwise engage effectively through translators and interpreters. 

Furthermore, the OEO is responsible for providing training for employees on the University’s non-discrimination policies and complaint procedures.  These workshops are offered on a monthly basis and will include information for employees on the University’s obligations under this Plan. A link to the OEO’s list of trainings and workshops can be found on OEO’s Education and Awareness Page. 

4.  Providing Notice to LEP Persons

The University will prominently post this Plan for LEP individuals on multiple publicly available University webpages, including the OEO, Careers, and Visitor Information webpages.  

A LEP individual wishing to file a complaint of discrimination with the University based on national origin should follow the applicable policy and procedure, as detailed on OEO’s webpage.  Should the University otherwise fail to provide the language assistance set forth in this Plan, an individual with LEP may contact the OEO as follows:  

LEP Coordinator:  Julia Camilli, Associate Director, OEO Accommodations & Accommodations Coordinator

  • In-person:  665 Broadway, 12 Floor, New York City, New York (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday)
  • By telephone:  212-998-2370
  • By email:  equal.opportunity@nyu.edu

External resources:

Information about filing a complaint externally can be found at:

https://www.lep.gov/file-a-title-vi-complaint

5.  Monitoring, Assessing, and Updating the LEP Plan

The University will monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the Plan on a regular basis.  This process may include updating the Plan for new LEP populations or when a new resource to provide language services becomes available.  Any update to the Plan will be posted in a timely manner on the University’s publicly available website.  

Effective Date: August 24, 2023