University of Arkansas Razorback Transit 2013 Title VI Program
Limited English Proficiency Plan
Table of Contents
Title VI Notice
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Title VI Complaint Procedures
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Title VI Complaint Form
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Four Factor Analysis and LEP Plan
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Public Participation Plan
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Table of Non-elected Board Members
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List of Title VI Complaints 2013
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Location of Transit Facilities
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Service Standards and Policies for Fixed Route Buses
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Plan Approval
25
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Title VI Notice Razorback Transit, as a sub-recipient of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission (NWARPC), complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and all Federal Transit Administration guidelines. Razorback Transit operates its programs and services without regard to race, color, and national origin. For further information or to file a complaint regarding the delivery of services generally, call (479) 5757433 (RIDE) or visit http://transit.uark.edu or contact the Transit and Parking Director at (479) 5753304 or
[email protected]. For more information or to file a complaint of discrimination, contact the University of Arkansas compliance officer: Compliance Officer ADA/Section 504/Title VI Coordinator Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance (479) 575-4019 (voice) (479) 575-3646 (tdd) Title VI complaint procedures and complaint forms are available at http://oeoc.uark.edu. It is the responsibility of the University’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance to investigate and resolve all allegations of discrimination on the basis of race, age, gender, national origin, religion, disability, veteran status, marital or parental status, genetic information and sexual orientation. In addition to utilizing the Title VI process at the University of Arkansas, a Complainant may file a Title VI complaint with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Office of Civil Rights, Attn: Title VI Program Coordinator, East Building, 5th Floor, TCR, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. *Free language assistance is available through La Oficina Latina. La Oficina Latina is located in the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education in Room 404 of the Arkansas Union. The office may also be reached by calling (479) 575-8405.
* The above notice in English and Spanish will be posted in the following locations: • • • • •
Union Station (Transit Facility) Department Administrative Office –ADSB, 155 Razorback Road, Fayetteville, AR 72701 Bus Maintenance Facility- BUSB 280, Eastern Avenue, Fayetteville, AR 72701 On printed maps and schedules Departmental Website http://transit.uark.edu/
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Title VI Complaint Procedures
General Information Razorback Transit, as a sub-recipient of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission (NWARPC), complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and all Federal Transit Administration guidelines. The objectives of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for FTA funding recipients are: • To ensure that the level and quality of public transportation service is provided in a nondiscriminatory manner; • To promote full and fair participation in public transportation decision–making without regard to race, color, or national origin; • To ensure meaningful access to transit-related programs and activities by persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). For further information or to file a complaint regarding the delivery of services, call (479) 575-7433 (RIDE), visit http://transit.uark.edu, or contact the Transit and Parking Director at (479) 575-3304 or
[email protected]. For further information about Razorback Transit’s non-discrimination obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, or to file a complaint of discrimination, call the University of Arkansas Compliance Officer in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance at (479) 575-4019.
Procedures If you believe that you have received discriminatory treatment by Razorback Transit on the basis of your race, color, or national origin, you have the right to file a complaint with the University’s Compliance Officer in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance (OEOC). The OEOC can be contacted at (479) 575-4019 or at http://oeoc.uark.edu/. A link to the OEOC website, containing the Title VI Complaint Procedures and Complaint Form, is also available at the Department’s website http://transit.uark.edu. Every effort will be made to obtain early resolution of complaints. The option of informal meetings between the affected parties and the UA Compliance Officer may be utilized for resolutions
In addition to utilizing the Title VI process at Razorback Transit, a Complainant may file a Title VI complaint with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Office of Civil Rights, Attn: Title VI Program Coordinator, East Building, 5th Floor, TCR, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. 1. The complaint must meet the following requirements: a. Complaint shall be in writing and signed by the Complainant(s). In cases where a Complainant is unable or incapable of providing a written statement, a verbal complaint may be made. The UA Compliance Officer
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will assist the person in converting verbal complaints to writing. All complaints must be signed by the Complainant or his/her representative. b. Include the date of the alleged act of discrimination or the dates when the Complainant(s) became aware of the alleged act discrimination. c. Present a detailed description of the issues, including the name and job titles of those individuals perceived as parties in the complaint, as well as a list of potential witnesses. d. Federal and State law requires complaints to be filed within 180 calendar days of the alleged incident.
2. The Complainant will be provided with a written acknowledgement that the UA Compliance Officer has received the complaint. 3. The UA Compliance Officer will review the complaint to determine its jurisdiction, acceptability, and need for additional information. If the complaint is accepted, the Compliance Officer will begin the investigation into the merits of the complaint. 4. Acceptance of the complaint will be based on the following criteria: a. The complaint was filed within 180 days of the alleged occurrence. b. The allegation must involve a covered basis such as race, color, or national origin. c. The allegation must involve a Razorback Transit service of a federal-aid recipient, sub-recipient, or contractor.
5. A complaint may be dismissed for the following reasons: a. The Complainant requests the withdrawal of the complaint. b. The Complainant fails to respond to repeated requests for additional information needed to process the complaint. c. The Complainant cannot be located after reasonable attempts.
6. Upon the determination to accept or reject the complaint for investigation, the Complainant will be notified in writing. 7. The UA Compliance Officer will have 90 calendar days from the acceptance of the complaint for investigation to prepare a written report. The report shall include a narrative description of the incident, identification of persons interviewed, and a determination of findings in the case. The investigative report and its findings will be reviewed with Razorback Transit officials and University of Arkansas’ General Counsel. 8. Upon completion of the investigative report, the UA Compliance Officer will send a letter to the Complainant based on its findings: •
A letter of finding indicating there was not a violation of the Title VI regulations. The letter will include an explanation of why the UA Compliance Officer did not find a violation.
•
A letter of finding indicating that Razorback Transit is in violation of the Title VI regulations. The letter will include each violation referenced in the applicable regulation, summary the allegations and the interviews regarding the alleged incident, and remediation and/or appropriate action that will occur. 5
The letter of findings will include information regarding the appeal rights of the Complainant. 9. If the Complainant wishes to appeal the decision, she/he/they have 30 calendar days after the date of the letter to do so. Appeals will be determined as follows: a. UA Compliance Officer will reconsider the determination if new significant facts are presented. b. If the Complainant is dissatisfied with the determination and/or resolution set forth, the same complaint may be submitted to the FTA for investigation. Complainant will be advised to contact the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Office of Civil Rights, Attn: Title VI Program Coordinator, East Building, 5th Floor, TCR, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
10. A copy of the complaint, the UA Compliance Officer’s investigative report including the letter of findings and, if appropriate, the actions Razorback Transit will implement to remedy the violation will be submitted to the FTA within 120 days of the receipt of the complaint. 11. A summary of all complaints and resolutions will be included as part of Title VI updates to the FTA.
Recordkeeping Requirement The UA Compliance Officer will retain the official complaint records. Razorback Transit will ensure that copies of records relating to Razorback Transit’s Title VI Complaint Process are maintained with department records. Records will be available for review audits.
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Title VI Complaint Form The University of Arkansas Razorback Transit is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of its transit service on the basis of race, color, or national origin, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. Any person who believes that he or she has been subjected to discrimination has the right to file a formal Title VI complaint within 180 days from the date of the alleged discrimination. The following information is necessary to assist in processing your formal Title VI complaint: If you have questions about filing a complaint, please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance at (479) 575-4019. SECTION I Name: ________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________ Phone Numbers: (home) ____________(work) _______________ (cell) ________________ Email: ________________________________________________________________ Do You Have Any Accessible Format Requirements? Large Print: YES _____ NO ______ Audio Tape: YES _____ NO _____ TDD: YES _____ NO _____ Other: ________________________ SECTION II I believe the discrimination I faced was based on (check all that apply): Race_____
Color _____
National Origin _____
Other _____
Are you filing this complaint on your own behalf? YES* _____ NO _____ (If “YES”, skip to Section III) If “NO”, please supply the name and relationship of the person for whom you are complaining: Name: _________________________________ Relationship: ____________________________ Please explain why you have filed for a 3rd Party. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please confirm that you have obtained the permission of the aggrieved party if you are filing on behalf of a 3rd Party. YES _____ NO _____
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SECTION III Explain as clearly as possible what happened and why you believe you were discriminated against. Describe all persons who were involved. Include the name and contact information (if known) of the person(s) who discriminated against you as well as the names and contact information (if known) of any witnesses. If more space is needed, you may add an additional document. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ SECTION IV Have you previously filed a Title VI compliant with the UA? YES _____ NO _____ Have you filed this complaint with any of the following agencies? Federal Transit Administration: YES_____ NO _____ Dept. of Justice: YES _____ NO _____ Arkansas Dept. of Transportation: YES_____ NO _____ US Dept. of Transportation: YES _____ NO _____ Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: YES _____ NO _____ Have you filed a lawsuit regarding this complaint? YES _____ NO _____
Please provide the contact information of a person in the court or agency where the complaint was filed: Name: ______________________________ Title: ______________________________ Agency/Court: ____________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________ Phone Numbers: ________________________________________________________________ Email: ________________________________________________________________
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SECTION V I affirm that I have read the above charge and that it is true to the best of my knowledge, information and belief. __________________________________________________________________________ Complainant’s Signature Date __________________________________________________________________________ Print or Type Name of Complainant
The University of Arkansas is committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities and prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, veteran's status, disability, or genetic information. Inquiries regarding the University’s nondiscrimination policy may be directed to the University's Compliance Officer in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance at (479) 575-4019
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Improving Access for People with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Four Factor Analysis & LEP Plan Razorback Transit (RT), of the Transit and Parking Department at the University of Arkansas (University), has conducted the following analysis to address the requirements under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which seeks to improve access to services for persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). The purpose is to ensure that no person on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). RT has conducted the following analysis using the four factors identified in the Department of Transportation (DOT) LEP guidance: Factor 1: The number and proportion of LEP persons served or encountered in the eligible service population Prior experiences with LEP individuals. RT operates fare free fixed route and paratransit service focused on and around the University of Arkansas campus within the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas. RT services major corridors of the city, but does not provide service within the entire city limits. Ozark Regional Transit, another area public transit provider, operates service in areas that are not covered by RT. RT has conducted a survey of operations staff, bus operators, paratransit operators, and all administrative personnel about the frequency of contact by populations of LEP individuals that needed communications assistance. Limited English Proficient (LEP) Persons Survey Results Spring of 2013 Daily Weekly Monthly Personal Contact 20% 5% 5% Verbal Assistance 10% 5% 3% Written Assistance 0% 0% 2%
Occasionally Infrequently Never 31% 21% 18% 31%
20%
31%
8%
16%
74%
The survey group consisted of 39 Razorback Transit employees, 74% of whom are drivers and 26% are lot crew, managers, mechanics or administrative staff. The 39 people in the survey group included 28 individuals or 80% of the fulltime Razorback Transit employees. In reviewing the results, RT has found that bus operators have had the most contact with possible LEP individuals. The interactions were mainly referencing certain addresses or locations on bus maps. There were also a number of comments that people would ask for recommendations for which routes to take to access these locations. No comments were noted that operators had experienced requests for documents in specific languages. 10
Data from the U.S. Census The information in the table below was collected for from the U.S. Census and the American Community Survey. This table, DP02, shows the “selected social characteristics in the United States”, more specifically the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas. DP02: SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates Note: This is a modified view of the original table. Supporting documentation on code lists, subject definitions, data accuracy, and statistical testing can be found on the American Community Survey website in the Data and Documentation section. Sample size and data quality measures (including coverage rates, allocation rates, and response rates) can be found on the American Community Survey website in the Methodology section. Subject Fayetteville city, Arkansas Estimate Margin of Percent Percent Error Margin of Error HOUSEHOLDS BY TYPE Total households 33,661 +/-1,676 33,661 (X) Family households (families) 13,911 +/-1,626 41.3% +/-5.4 Nonfamily households 19,750 +/-2,425 58.7% +/-5.4
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT Population 3 years and over enrolled in school Nursery school, preschool Kindergarten Elementary school (grades 1-8) High school (grades 9-12) College or graduate school EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT Population 25 years and over Less than 9th grade 9th to 12th grade, no diploma High school graduate (includes equivalency) Some college, no degree Associate's degree Bachelor's degree Graduate or professional degree Percent high school graduate or higher Percent bachelor's degree or higher VETERAN STATUS Civilian population 18 years and over Civilian veterans DISABILITY STATUS OF THE CIVILIAN NONINSTITUTIONALIZED POPULATION Total Civilian Non-institutionalized Population With a disability
26,996
+/-2,463
26,996
(X)
613 467 5,044 2,915 17,957
+/-424 +/-418 +/-1,085 +/-895 +/-2,386
2.3% 1.7% 18.7% 10.8% 66.5%
+/-1.6 +/-1.6 +/-3.8 +/-3.3 +/-5.4
44,671 1,088 2,235 9,270
+/-1,791 +/-666 +/-938 +/-1,859
44,671 2.4% 5.0% 20.8%
(X) +/-1.5 +/-2.1 +/-4.1
9,559 3,471 11,115 7,933
+/-1,682 +/-1,473 +/-1,614 +/-1,527
21.4% 7.8% 24.9% 17.8%
+/-3.7 +/-3.4 +/-3.2 +/-3.3
(X) (X)
(X) (X)
92.6% 42.6%
+/-3.0 +/-4.1
62,403 3,757
+/-1,557 +/-875
62,403 6.0%
(X) +/-1.4
73,979
+/-974
73,979
(X)
7,330
+/-1,390
9.9%
+/-1.9
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Under 18 years With a disability 18 to 64 years With a disability 65 years and over With a disability PLACE OF BIRTH Total population Native Born in United States U.S. CITIZENSHIP STATUS Foreign-born population Naturalized U.S. citizen Not a U.S. citizen LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME Population 5 years and over English only Language other than English
12,669 172 55,128 4,610
+/-1,561 +/-184 +/-1,763 +/-1,115
12,669 1.4% 55,128 8.4%
(X) +/-1.5 (X) +/-2.0
6,182 2,548
+/-1,164 +/-991
6,182 41.2%
(X) +/-12.9
75,109 70,603 69,605
+/-39 +/-1,392 +/-1,532
75,109 94.0% 92.7%
(X) +/-1.9 +/-2.0
4,506 1,039 3,467
+/-1,395 +/-764 +/-1,110
4,506 23.1% 76.9%
(X) +/-14.3 +/-14.3
N N N
N N N
N N N
(X) N N
75,109 8.3% 0.1% 0.3% 0.1% 1.8% 10.8% 3.4% 0.4% 17.2% 0.0% 0.0% 16.5% 2.5% 0.1% 1.1% 2.1% 0.2% 0.2% 2.0% 3.7% 0.1% 0.3% 0.8% 0.9% 0.1% 0.8% 0.1%
(X) +/-2.5 +/-0.2 +/-0.3 +/-0.2 +/-1.0 +/-3.9 +/-1.6 +/-0.4 +/-3.4 +/-0.2 +/-0.2 +/-3.1 +/-1.3 +/-0.2 +/-0.7 +/-1.2 +/-0.3 +/-0.2 +/-0.9 +/-1.7 +/-0.1 +/-0.4 +/-0.6 +/-1.2 +/-0.1 +/-0.6 +/-0.1
ANCESTRY Total population 75,109 +/-39 American 6,202 +/-1,860 Arab 78 +/-131 Czech 224 +/-219 Danish 95 +/-154 Dutch 1,382 +/-726 English 8,097 +/-2,895 French (except Basque) 2,528 +/-1,165 French Canadian 280 +/-296 German 12,948 +/-2,578 Greek 0 +/-192 Hungarian 0 +/-192 Irish 12,426 +/-2,358 Italian 1,891 +/-944 Lithuanian 101 +/-164 Norwegian 833 +/-555 Polish 1,605 +/-921 Portuguese 132 +/-222 Russian 122 +/-149 Scotch-Irish 1,532 +/-712 Scottish 2,774 +/-1,286 Slovak 53 +/-94 Subsaharan African 245 +/-336 Swedish 622 +/-415 Swiss 712 +/-902 Ukrainian 66 +/-112 Welsh 567 +/-421 West Indian (excluding Hispanic origin 40 +/-66 groups) Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey*
* Although the American Community Survey (ACS) produces population, demographic and housing unit estimates, it is the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program that produces and disseminates the official estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, cities and towns and estimates of housing units for states and counties. * While the 2011 American Community Survey (ACS) data generally reflect the December 2009 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) definitions of metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas; in certain instances the names, codes, and boundaries of the principal cities shown in ACS tables may differ from the OMB definitions due to differences in the effective dates of the geographic entities.
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Geographic boundaries of service area The image below represents the paratransit service area that RT serves. The cloud represents the ¾ of a mile boundary from RT fixed routes.
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Census data on LEP population in the service area The information in the table below was generated using data from The U.S. Census. It shows that Spanish is the most significant non-English speaking population. PCT039-POPGROUP-Total population: NATIVITY BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME BY ABILITY TO SPEAK ENGLISH FOR THE POPULATION 5 YEARS AND OVER [45] - Universe: Population 5 years and over Census 2000 Summary File 4 (SF 4) - Sample Data NOTE: Data based on a sample. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, definitions, and count corrections see http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/expsf4.htm.
Total: Native: Speak only English Speak Spanish: Speak English "very well" Speak English "well" Speak English "not well" Speak English "not at all" Speak other Indo-European languages: Speak English "very well" Speak English "well" Speak English "not well" Speak English "not at all" Speak Asian and Pacific Island languages: Speak English "very well" Speak English "well" Speak English "not well" Speak English "not at all" Speak other languages: Speak English "very well" Speak English "well" Speak English "not well" Speak English "not at all" Foreign born: Speak only English Speak Spanish: Speak English "very well" Speak English "well" Speak English "not well" Speak English "not at all" Speak other Indo-European languages: Speak English "very well" Speak English "well" Speak English "not well" Speak English "not at all" Speak Asian and Pacific Island languages: Speak English "very well" Speak English "well" Speak English "not well" Speak English "not at all" Speak other languages: Speak English "very well" Speak English "well" Speak English "not well" Speak English "not at all"
Washington County, Arkansas
Fayetteville city, Arkansas
Washington Percent of total Total who who speak County, speak English Arkansas less than "very English less well" than "very well"
Fayetteville Total who Percent of city, total who speak English Arkansas less than "very speak English well" less than "very well" 53,873 50,226 48,459 1,152 864 135 150 288 0.53% 3 418 325 46 47 93 0.17% 0 185 153 16 16 32 0.06% 0 12 12 0 0 0 0.00% 0 3,647 525 1,375 436 396 360 939 1.74% 183 428 372 47 9 56 0.10% 0 1,151 563 437 119 588 1.09% 32 168 96 62 10 72 0.13% 0
145,934 134,516 129,310 3,844 2,801 579 394 70 861 681 110 70 0 462 339 64 59 0 39 29 4 6 0 11,418 1,282 7,207 1,443 1,805 2,147 1,812 598 490 64 44 0 2,133 995 827 237 74 198 116 70 10 2
1043 0.71%
180 0.12%
123 0.08%
10 0.01%
5764 3.95%
108 0.07%
1138 0.78%
82 0.06%
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Analysis of data The University has conducted a review to determine if LEP persons should receive translation services at no cost. In conducting the review, the University has engaged in the four-factor analysis to determine vital documents that should be translated in whole or in part for Spanish-speaking individuals. The University has translated or is translating the following documents into Spanish: Transit Specific: Title VI Notice to the Public Title VI Complaint Procedures and Form Transit Schedules Other Materials: Link to Spanish version of Free Application for Federal Student Aid Link to Financial Aid TV (questions and answers regarding key questions on financial aid) Financial Aid Calculator Guia Para La Familia (guide on admissions process and financial aid for Spanish speaking students and families): covers essential areas of the admissions process and financial aid and combines a variety of publications that are currently available in English into an accessible 16-page booklet in Spanish. This work includes a welcome from the Chancellor, a University profile piece, information on ACT and SAT requirements with tips on how to do well on those exams, five steps for including family members in the application process, a step-by-step financial aid page, a FAFSA workshop, information on how to schedule a campus visit and why that visit is important, housing information, contact information for those wishing to speak with a counselor who speaks Spanish, tips on how to adapt to living on campus, and current student profiles. Pre-College Programs information/application packet materials (provided to students and made available in Spanish on the Pre-College Programs website during the recruitment period from September 1 to November 1) The University plans to translate other vital documents in the future and will continue to review other documents and/or materials to determine if translation is necessary. Access for Spanish speaking LEP persons The University of Arkansas employs bilingual staff, contract interpreters/translators, translated written materials, volunteers, local community-based organizations, as well as, the University language department. These resources are available to RT. Additional examples of services available for LEP persons and their families: •
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Community: An important charge of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Community position is to facilitate outreach to Hispanic students and their parents, including those with limited English proficiency. For this purpose the Office of Latino Academic Advancement and Community Relations (La Oficina Latina or OLAACR) was created by Diversity Affairs in July, 2011. The main purpose of La Oficina Latina is to help develop campus wide coherent and effective policies and initiatives for Latinos, in terms of recruitment and retention of students, faculty and staff, community outreach, and advocacy. 15
OLAACR serves as the main liaison between the University and the Hispanic community. Its bilingual staff includes an admissions counselor, a student aid and a graduate assistant supported by the Latin American and Latino Studies Program. La Oficina Latina is located in the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education in the Student Union of the University of Arkansas. Its bilingual staff is available for communication with the Spanish speaking community and makes available relevant information in Spanish. Also, in conjunction with OLAACR, the College Access Initiative, another unit under the Office Diversity Affairs, is working with local Hispanic high school students, including LEP students, encouraging them to further their education and informing them about postsecondary options including the UA. CAI serves underrepresented students (particularly Hispanic students) from area high schools, focused on improving reading and math skills, with a specific focus on increasing ACT/SAT scores. •
Enrollment Services (including Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid) makes every attempt to hire a diverse staff who can reach out to the community including those who do not speak English as a first language. A Spanish speaking member of the Admissions staff works in the credentials evaluation unit and two serve as recruiters to help serve these students and their parents. One of these recruiters is shared position with the Office of Diversity Affairs. The Office of Financial Aid also has a Spanish speaking counselor and makes available a variety of publications in Spanish as well as a Financial Aid TV program. Also, Admissions produces a Spanish version of the College and Financial Aid Planning Guide and has included volunteers from the campus branch of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in recruitment efforts and Latino outreach, providing brochures in both Spanish and English, Razorback t-shirts, and other materials for recruitment events. The Department of World Languages reviews brochures written in Spanish to ensure the prose is grammatically correct and connotatively appropriate for the intended audience. The number of freshman Hispanic students attending the University of Arkansas has grown 28% for the 2011class.
•
Within the Division of Academic Affairs, bilingual faculty, staff and students assist the University to communicate effectively with LEP individuals, as needed. Some academic units also produce translations of certain materials, particularly those of interest to prospective students and their families; as indicated, the Department of World Languages reviews brochures written in Spanish to make sure the prose is grammatically correct and connotatively appropriate for the intended audience. Academic departments also contract for interpreters/translators, as necessary, including work with staff and students during summer programs for youth. On occasion, LEP individuals needing assistance are referred to community agencies. Some specific examples of assistance are as follows: •
Within the Division of Student Affairs, the Pre-College Programs (PCP) information/application packet materials are made available in both Spanish and English. The materials are provided to students and made available in both languages on the PCP program website during the recruitment period from September 1st to November 1st. Financial aid information for students is available and provided in both Spanish and English. Bilingual staff or contracted interpreters/translators attend parent meetings in the community, and are available to assist students and parents with information and services. In addition, bilingual staff assists students and parents as a part of the University’s First Year Experience program, and work is underway to translate certain materials on the FYE web page. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at the University’s Health Center provides brochures that are geared toward international students. The brochure identifies concerns they commonly face and providing information about seeking counseling services. CAPS has a bilingual staff member available to assist students. 16
o Spring International Language Center (SILC), housed at the University of Arkansas, offers 25 hours per week of courses in English language and academic preparation, primarily for international students preparing to enter this university or other competitive colleges and universities throughout the United States. The SILC faculty has Master's degrees in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, linguistics, and related fields of study. The SILC faculty has designed a rigorous curriculum which includes courses in Reading and Writing for Academic Purposes, Grammar, Listening, Pronunciation and Speaking skills. Support programs are offered for cross-cultural adjustment, stress and time management, and academic study skills. SILC has excellent computer and language lab facilities available for independent study and research on the Internet. The University also offers resources for individuals with hearing limitations or speech disabilities to have access to program areas. The auxiliary aids are listed below. • •
TTD/TTY is available in various locations around campus Sorenson video relay service is available in the Center for Educational Access (CEA). RT works closely with this office.
Free language assistance (oral or written) is available for LEP individuals to the extent required to provide meaningful access to programs and services. Factor 2: The Frequency with Which LEP Individuals Come into Contact with your programs, activities, and services RT conducted a survey inquiring about the frequency and type of contact by LEP populations in relation to public transit service. See results under Limited English (LEP) persons Survey Results in Factor 1. Factor 3: The Importance to LEP Persons of Your Program, Activities and Services Access to public transportation is important to all individuals. The University will continue to actively communicate the availability of language assistance (written and/or oral) in its targeted outreach efforts to LEP populations. Through these efforts and in cooperation with La Oficina Latina, Razorback Transit will seek to learn which services and resources are most important to LEP populations. Factor 4: The Resources Available to the Recipient and Costs Razorback Transit as a part of the University of Arkansas community has access to the resources mentioned in this document. The estimated cost of providing translated materials in print and signage to Razorback Transit is $1,500.00. The operating budget of La Oficina Latina is $12,000.00. La Oficina Latina serves as the main liaison between the University and the Hispanic community. This office provides written translation assistance, as well as, language assistance to the campus community. Razorback Transit will be working with La Oficina Latina to provide training, for the department, in the best methods to provide timely and reasonable assistance to LEP populations. The training will consist of periodic webinars or workshops on best practices for serving Latinos and La Oficina Latina will post 17
relevant information on its , now being developed, web page for staff members at the University to refer to. In an effort to monitor, evaluate, and update this plan, Razorback Transit will conduct bi-annual LEP Contact surveys within the department. The LEP Contact survey conducted in the Spring of 2013 is included under Factor 1 on page 10 of this plan. Razorback Transit will also conduct a bi-annual survey of La Oficina Latina’s statistics on the types of LEP requests that the office has received pertaining to Razorback Transit. Razorback Transit will also participate in campus wide surveys or evaluations that pertain to Title VI or language assistance resources, such as the U.S. General Services Administration Compliance Questionnaire for Recipients. This information along with any comments or requests from the public participation process will be used to evaluate and update future Title VI and LEP Plans.
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UA Transit Policy 200.05 - PUBLIC PARTICIPATION POLICY Purpose: To establish a consistent policy for soliciting and responding to public comments about Razorback Transit services and policies. A public hearing will be held at least 30 days prior to any reduction in service equal to or greater than 10% or any increase in fare. Written comments will be accepted two weeks prior to the scheduled hearing and at the hearing. Responses to the written comments received prior to the hearing will be presented at the hearing. The written comments and a written response to the comments will be included with the minutes. Copies of the minutes will be available at the Transit and Parking Department, 30 days after the hearing. The minutes will also be available on the Transit and Parking web site within 30 days of the hearing. Meetings are scheduled in places and at times when most likely to draw public participation. Public meetings are publicized both to internal campus audiences and via media releases to local media outlets. When particular constituencies are recognized as being affected by a particular meeting, notification is also made to those groups. Razorback Transit will notify the Office of Latino Academic Advancement and Community Relations (OLAACR/ La Oficina Latina), a division of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity. La Oficina Latina will coordinate notifications to on-campus and off-campus organizations that interact with the Hispanic community. Examples of organizations that will be notified are: The Community Resource Group with the City of Fayetteville, the Latino College Working Group List Serve (one hundred plus contacts in the schools), the Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas, the NWA Workers Justice Center, Paso a Paso Spanish radio program in La Zeta, La Prensa Libre Spanish Newspaper, Univision Arkansas Spanish television, the NWA Council Diversity Taskforce, and LULAC Councils. Public meetings at the University of Arkansas are held in buildings that are ADA accessible. Typically these meetings will be held in the Student Union, which is connected to Union Station, the primary connection point for Transit routes. The time of day will vary depending on the meeting, from morning to evening, but most are scheduled on weekdays. Revised 7/22/13 – gs/aw Revised 5/20/13 – gs/aw Revised 6/10/08 – gs/ms Revised 6/21/05 - gs Revised 4/6/04 - gs Reviewed 11/07/01 - gs/da/eq Reviewed 01/20/00 - gs/da/eq
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Table Depicting the Racial Composition of Membership of Non-elected Bodies Race
# of Members
Ethnicity
# of Members
American Indian or Alaska Native
0
Hispanic or Latino
0
Asian
0
Non-Hispanic or Non-Latino
10
Black or African American
1
Sex
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0
Male
# of Members 9
White
9
Female
1
Total
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The 10 members of the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas are appointed by the governor, one each year, for 10-year terms with the consent of the state senate. Two trustees are appointed from each of the state’s four congressional districts and two who are alumni of the University of Arkansas are appointed from the state at-large. The trustees oversee the UA System and approve major system and institutional policies.
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List of Title VI Complaints
Razorback Transit has no Title VI investigations, complaints, or lawsuits to report. Spring 2013
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Location of Transit Facilities
All facilities relating to Razorback Transit are located on the University of Arkansas campus. There are no construction projects, for facilities, currently underway nor in planning phase.
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Service Standards for Fixed Route Buses Vehicle Load Standards Bus Type
Average Passenger Capacities Seated 32 36 44 40 40
Am Trans 35" High Floor Gillig 40' High Floor Gillig 40' Low Floor Gillig 40' Low Floor Orion
Standing 32 44 25 40 40
Maximum Load Factor 2 2.2 1.6 2 2
Total 64 80 69 80 80
Vehicle headway Standards Weekday Full Service
Weekday Reduced Service
AM Peak
PM Peak
Base
Evening
AM Peak
PM Peak
Base
Evening
Blue
7
10
10
30
30
30
30
--
Brown
20
20
20
--
--
--
--
--
Green
6
10
10
30
30
30
30
--
Gray
30
30
30
--
--
--
--
--
Maple Hill
16
16
16
--
--
--
--
--
Pomfret
12
12
12
--
--
--
--
--
Purple
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
--
Red
20
20
30
60
20
20
30
--
Route 56
20
20
20
--
--
--
--
--
Tan
15
30
30
30
30
30
30
--
Yellow
16
16
16
--
--
--
--
--
* AM Peak 7-10 am; PM Peak 3-5:20 pm; Base 10 am - 3 pm; Evening 6-10:30 pm. **Full Service during Fall and Spring Semesters at U of A only. Saturday Full Service Saturday Reduced Service AM Peak
PM Peak
Base
Night
AM Peak
PM Peak
Base
Night
Blue
30
30
30
30
--
--
--
--
Brown
30
30
30
--
--
--
--
--
Green
30
30
30
30
--
--
--
--
Gray
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
Maple Hill
30
30
30
--
--
--
--
--
Pomfret
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
Purple
30
30
30
30
--
--
--
--
Red
60
60
60
60
--
--
--
--
Route 56
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
Tan
30
30
30
30
--
--
--
--
Yellow
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
* AM Peak 7-10 am; PM Peak 3-5:20 pm; Base 10 am - 3 pm; Evening 6-10:30 pm. **Full Service during Fall and Spring Semesters at U of A only.
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On Time Performance A vehicle will be considered on time if it departs Union Station or its primary scheduled time point no more than 1 minute early or 5 minutes past the published schedule or time table. Razorback Transit’s on time performance goal is 95% or greater. Service Availability Razorback Transit routes and bus stops are to be placed in a manner so that service is provided to areas of high density and need. Routes and stops are evaluated on a yearly basis. Customer requests, community comments, and area density are considered when altering or expanding routes. Vehicle Assignment Policy All Razorback Transit buses are equipped with air conditioning, stop annunciation systems, and ADA securement devices. Buses are assigned to routes based on the operating characteristics of the route. Routes of higher ridership are operated with buses that can accommodate a higher load factor. The topography and street size also factor into the decision of which size of vehicle is best suited for a particular route. Transit Amenities Policy Transit amenities are placed according to stop demand and as State, City, and University regulations allow. Razorback Transit does not have sole authority to place amenities. Installation of transit amenities requires approval from the entities mentioned above.
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