The University offers equal employment opportunities and does not discriminate against any employee or any applicant for employment, nor shall it fail to hire or refuse to hire any applicant for employment, because of sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, disability, disabled veteran status, or Vietnam Era veteran status. All appointments to University positions shall be on the basis of selection decisions based on lawful, job-related, and non-discrimination criteria and in keeping with the University's Affirmative Action Policy of nondiscrimination, Federal and State employment laws and regulations, and the regulations of the University. It is the policy of the University to fill staff positions with the best qualified and best suited candidate either by promoting or transferring an employee or by hiring from outside the University.