A Welcome Message from the Associate Vice Chancellor for Equal Opportunity and Access - Fall 2025
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
My name is Kerri Tillett, and I am the University’s Titles VI, IX and ADA/504 Coordinator. Welcome to Fall 2025! As we begin a new academic year, we are excited to welcome both new and returning members to our campus community. UMass Amherst is committed to advancing the inclusive and equitable well-being of everyone on our campus. To that end, I would like (re)introduce you to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access (EOA).
Who We Are
The mission of EOA is to ensure that the UMass campus community is free from harassment and discrimination, as mandated by law and University policies. Our work is guided by our institutional values of equity, inclusion, respect, and transparency. EOA is your resource to ensure that our campus continues to be a place where everyone feels a sense of belonging and has an equal opportunity to succeed. Learn more about EOA.
How We Support Our Community
EOA serves all members of the campus community by providing resources, guidance, and support in several key areas:
- Investigating allegations of discrimination. University Policy protects all members of our community from unlawful discrimination. Examples of the types of complaints that are filed with EOA are based on sex, race, national origin, and disability. A complete list of categories of discrimination that are investigated by EOA can be found in the Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Interpersonal Violence and the Title IX Policy and Grievance Procedures. There are many campus resources (including counseling, advocacy and medical care) that are available to support victims of discrimination. Report allegations of discrimination through our online form.
- Responsible Employees. At UMass, there is a limited group of Responsible Employees who are required to report Title IX/sex discrimination allegations to the Title IX Coordinator. While not all employees are required to report allegations to EOA, EOA encourages everyone to report allegations to ensure that the affected party receives the necessary resources and support.
- Collaborate with our campus partners. EOA works proactively with campus stakeholders to create a campus free from discrimination and harassment based on protected characteristics.
- Provide training on University policies and procedures. EOA will do on-demand training on our nondiscrimination policies and procedures to ensure that our community understands our commitment to the well-being of everyone on our campus.
- Encourage accountability: We provide a clear and supportive process for addressing discrimination and harassment concerns, holding one another accountable for behavior that goes against our shared community values.
- Accessibility: EOA also connects members of our community to a wide range of accessibility resources, ranging from academic and workplace support to assistive technology, just to name a few. Learn about the range of accessibility resources available to you.
We Are Here for You
We are always available to meet if you have a question, concern, or want to learn more about your rights and responsibilities under our policy. We also invite you to explore our website to learn more about our team, our mission, and available resources.
We look forward to working together to uphold our shared commitment to fostering an inclusive campus community. Have an amazing academic year!
Sincerely,
Kerri Thompson Tillett, J.D.
Associate Vice Chancellor for Equal Opportunity & Access;
Title IX Coordinator; ADA Compliance Officer