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2007 EPIC Award Recipient

EXEMPLARY VOLUNTARY EFFORTS (EVE) AWARD honors federal contractors that have demonstrated through programs or activities, exemplary and innovative efforts to increase the employment opportunities of employees, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans.

Rush University Medical Center ("Rush"), opened in 1837, is a non-profit academic medical center that encompasses a hospital for adults and children with more than 613 staffed beds. Rush has remained committed to serving the diverse and ever-changing communities of the Chicago area

Description of Innovative EEO Programs:

The Rush ADA Task Force has been a pivotal factor in Rush becoming a national leader for empowering employees, student, faculty and patients with disabilities. Founded in 1991, the Rush ADA Task Force has the mandate to implement policies for persons with disabilities and educate others on how working with and hiring persons with disabilities enriches all of us. The Task Force has initiated 24 programs for improved access and services, as well as 19 disability training, outreach, and education programs. One of the Task Force's most prominent achievements has been its work with the State of Illinois to create the brochure, "Parking Programs for Persons with Disabilities: A Guide for Medical Professionals." This brochure outlines the proper issuance of disability parking placards. In March 2005, the Association of Academic Physiatrist accepted the brochure for publication in its nation newsletter.

Rush provides returning veterans with an additional seven full days of paid leave to ease their transition back to the workforce. Rush acknowledges the sacrifices of its veteran employees and strives to support them for their continuous efforts. As of March 2007, six veterans have returned and taken advantage of this policy.

Rush University Medical Center incorporates the value of inclusion with its 2006 representation of women and minorities:

• 72% of employees are women
• 50% of employees are minority
  • African American employees represent 29%
  • Hispanics 10%
  • Asian Americans 11%
  • Native Americans just under 1%.
• 74% of the student body at Rush University is women, and 28% are minority.
• Rush University students learn from a diverse faculty that is 46% women and more than 21% minorities.
• Female and minority representation in management has remained high at 62 % women and 24 % minority employees.

One of the flagship programs is "School to Work" (SAW) launched with support from the U.S. Department of Labor to help combat workforce shortages by educating entry-level workers for advancing in healthcare careers. The program provides refresher courses in reading, math, and communication skills for participants to prepare them for entry into local certificate or degree programs. The current class of 15 individuals is comprised of 100% minorities. The minority distribution is 60% African American, 33% Hispanic, 7% Asian American and 87% women. The previous graduating class was 100% women and 75% African American.

One of the most effective educational programs is "Linking Education and Performance" (LEAP). LEAP provides over 200 free educational classes such as English as a Second Language (ESL) and management training programs. It also offers employees tuition reimbursement for approved classes off campus, and as free tuition at all colleges within Rush University with the exception of Rush Medical College. This benefit has allowed employees to obtain undergraduate and graduate degrees that provide access to management positions within the field of their choice. Paula Brown, who started as a secretary, used the LEAP program to help her earn a master's degree in business administration; she is now the project coordinator for the Office for Equal Opportunity at Rush.

Rush University Medical Center was a pioneer in promoting a pro-woman, pro-parent work environment. In 1971, Rush started one of the first on-site day care centers in Chicago, "The Laurance Armour Day School" (LADS). LADS provides a fun and educationally stimulating environment for infants, pre-school and school-age children of Rush employees on the campus. LADS is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. LADS accepts children from four months of age through kindergarten. All teachers and staff are Rush employees. This award winning program also provides after school care and a summer camp for children up to age 14.

Rush also instituted a policy that allows many part-time employees to receive full-time benefits. Employees who choose to work only nine days in a two week period remain eligible for full-time benefits. 595 employees ( 92% women) use this benefit. Another program, the Weekender RN, allows registered nurses to work only weekends and still qualify for full-time benefits. This flexible work schedule helps nurses who may be attending school or providing in child care Monday through Friday to qualify for benefits.

To support the dream of home ownership for its employees, the Employer Assisted Housing Program (EAHP) grant. The EAHP provides $2500 toward a down payment on a home in Chicago and the loan is forgiven provided that the employee remains at Rush for a specified period of time. Since its inception in 2006, five employees have closed on homes, and four more employees expect to close soon. These nine employees are all minorities, and six are women.

Commitment to Community Service:

Rush supports its community in a variety of ways. The Rush Community Service Initiatives Program (RCSIP), established in 1991, is a thriving program. Supported by the faculty, Rush's medical and nursing students provide primary and preventive care to primarily African American and Hispanic community residents through a network of community service programs, including homeless shelters and free health care clinics. RCSIP is a model for academic medical centers for training future caregivers in community health. RCSIP also staffs a medical outreach van that provides free medical care on the streets of Chicago.