Office of Access and Compliance

Mission and Vision

The Office of Access and Compliance (OAC) supports the mission and strategic plan of UT Health Science Center by cultivating a welcoming and inclusive learning and working environment that enables everyone to thrive. Accomplished through close collaboration and partnerships with the campus communities in Memphis, Jackson, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville, OAC works to create an inclusive community that fosters an understanding and appreciation for diversity among our students, trainees, staff, faculty, and administrators. This is partly done by facilitating meaningful interactions between individuals from a collective mixture of cultures, social identities, values, beliefs, perspectives, and experiences.  

Reporting directly to the Executive Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration and Chief Operating Officer, the Office of Access and Compliance addresses experiences around feeling welcomed and valued across the university, evaluates systems and processes that enable opportunities and growth, and shares best practices to attract and retain diverse talent. Inclined by the institutional strategic plan, the Office of Access and Compliance:

• Coordinates, facilitates, and participates in developing and implementing equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, procedures, and guidelines for UTHSC.  
• Supports UTHSC’s strategic map while leading and collaborating with various campus advisory bodies.  
• Encourages and monitors progress in implementing access and engagement initiatives and coordinates K-12 outreach.
• Organizes and manages multiple campus-wide awards programs recognizing the individuals who bring the institutional mission and values to life.
• Arranges, collaborates on, and participates in a variety of celebrations for students, trainees, staff, and faculty.
• Develops institutional and governmental reports including, but not limited to, the University's Affirmative Action Plans, surveys for Title VI compliance, and other metrics. 
• Prepares and delivers learning opportunities and programming for all campus community members in person and over Zoom/Teams. 
• Investigates and/or coordinates the handling of complaints of discrimination, bias incidents, discriminatory harassment, and grievances associated with accommodation requests (i.e., disability; religious). 
• Coordinates and facilitates UT Health Science Center's accessibility compliance program.