Policy Office > Ethics Policies > Limited English Proficiency (S-25)

Limited English Proficiency (S-25)

Standard: S-25
Responsible Executive: Vice President for Ethics and Compliance
Responsible Office: Office for Civil Rights
Date Issued: April 15, 2023
Date Last Revised: N/A

Table of Contents

Contacts
Individuals and Entities Affected
Statement of Standard
Responsibilities
Definitions (defined terms are capitalized throughout the document)
Related Documents, Forms and Tools
History and Updates
Appendix

Contacts

Clarification of Standard

Office for Civil Rights
765-494-7255 | ocr@purdue.edu

Campus Specific Questions

Fort Wayne: Human Resources and Office for Civil Rights Compliance
260-481-6840 | hr@pfw.edu

Northwest: Human Resources or Office of Civil Rights
219-989-2251 or 219-785-5545 | hr@pnw.edu or ocr@pnw.edu

West Lafayette:

Individuals and Entities Affected

All colleges, schools, departments, offices, and other units of the University.

Statement of Standard

Purdue University seeks to ensure meaningful communication with individuals who have Limited English Proficiency (LEP). As an institution of higher education, the University’s admission standards for undergraduate and graduate student degree programs generally require English proficiency in accordance with U.S. student visa criteria. English proficiency may be an essential function of employment if it is job-related and consistent with business necessity.

The University will take reasonable steps to ensure that individuals with LEP have meaningful access and an equal opportunity to participate in services, activities and programs offered by Purdue. Language assistance is provided through competent bilingual staff, staff interpreters, contracts or formal arrangements with local organizations providing interpretation or translation services, or technology and telephonic interpretation services. All interpreters, translators and other aids needed to comply with this policy are provided without cost to the person being served.

Responsibilities

All Colleges, Schools, Departments, Offices, and Other Units

  • Take reasonable steps to provide assistance to individuals with LEP; consult with the Office of Institutional Equity or the campus Human Resources department as needed.

Office of Institutional Equity

  • Administer this standard.
  • Assist units in determining reasonable steps for providing assistance to individuals with LEP.

Human Resources

  • Advise units in determining whether English proficiency is job-related and consistent with business necessity for a given position.
  • Assist units in determining reasonable steps for providing assistance to employees with LEP.

Definitions

All defined terms are capitalized throughout the document. Additional defined terms may be found in the central Policy Glossary.

Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
When a person’s primary language is not English or they have difficulty communicating effectively in English.

Related Documents, Forms and Tools

This standard is issued in support of the policy on Equal Opportunity and Equal Access (III.C.2), as amended or superseded.

Limited English Proficiency Resources webpage

Federal Resources and References

History and Updates

April 15, 2023: This is the first standard to address this issue.

Appendix

There are no appendices to this standard.