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Transportation Cabinet
Federal Highway Administration Approves KYTC Affirmative Action Plan Update
Frankfort, Kentucky (July 21, 2005) – The Transportation Cabinet's updated affirmative action plan has been approved by the Federal Highway Administration. The affirmative action plan’s objective is to increase minority and female employment. The plan outlines strategies and objectives designed to achieve hiring goals.
"This updated plan underscores the cabinet's commitment to reaching and surpassing minority hiring goals set by Governor Ernie Fletcher," said acting Secretary Transportation Cabinet Bill Nighbert. "By implementing strategies and procedures contained in the plan we will obtain short-term and long-term success. In order for the cabinet to be successful, we must embrace the entire culture and concept in which the affirmative action plan defines.”
As stated in the affirmative action plan, the cabinet's current hiring levels are 7.04 percent for minorities and 19.35 percent for women. The plan will increase these results.
Some proposed and current activities of the 118 page plan include:
· The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Office of Business and Occupational Development (OBOD) will develop measurement tools to generate an applicant pool through job fairs.
· The cabinet will utilize referral networks such as the NAACP, Urban Leagues, and other civic organizations whenever possible to attract female and minority applicants.
· The DAS and OBOD will facilitate and conduct comprehensive EEO training for management and EEO personnel in the district offices.
· The cabinet will contact college placement services for the purpose of identifying students with specific majors.
· Volunteers of the cabinet’s Kentucky Engineering Exposure Network (KEEN) and district EEO personnel will contact state high schools to identify female and minority students for participation in the Summer Transportation Institute and KEEN.
· The cabinet will continue its practice of identifying female and minority applicants for inclusion on the list of those invited to interview for vacant cabinet positions.
The cabinet has also developed a recruiting program that will enhance the outreach efforts for minorities and women. The cabinet is currently developing a partnership with Kentucky State University (KSU) by offering students a scholarship which will provide financial assistance throughout the academic year and provide intern opportunities in the summer. In an effort to retain minorities and females, the students will repay their scholarship on a year to year basis– each year a scholarship received is equaled to one year of service to the cabinet. This program is modeled after the civil engineering program established in 1948.
"The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is making its affirmative action practices a high priority," said Federal Highway Division Administrator Jose Sepulveda. "Our office has worked integrally with the cabinet on the development of this plan. We will continue to work closely with the cabinet as it implements the various components of the affirmative action plan."
The affirmative action update was requested by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) following concerns raised earlier this year regarding the lack of opportunities for minorities and women. Following months of cooperative input, data exchanges and a number of meetings with the federal highway administration officials, a formal date of July 20, 2005 was set for the cabinet to submit the updated plan. The plan was approved by FHWA on July 18, 2005.
The cabinet and FHWA officials are continuously working together to assess the progress of the affirmative action plan.
"This is a plan that will get results, not just look good on paper," concluded Secretary Nighbert.
A complete copy of the updated affirmative action plan is available by contacting the KYTC. You can also see the complete plan on the internet at www.transportation.ky.gov/obod/.
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