The Vice Chancellor and his staff developed UWM's first Affirmative Action Program in September 1973. It included the creation of an Affirmative Action Office and appointment of a Special Assistant to the Chancellor for Affirmative Action as the office's director. The office was created to monitor the University's compliance with federal affirmative action laws as outlined by the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in Higher Education Guidelines (October 1972). The Affirmative Action Office began operation during the 1973-1974 academic year.
Before the 1975-1976 academic year, the Affirmative Action Office was renamed the Equal Opportunity Office. Before the 1988-1989 academic year, the office became the Office of Affirmation Action and Equal Opportunity. The office documents compliance with federal and state affirmative action and equal opportunity laws and investigates complaints of discrimination on campus.
