1. Vision and Basic Principles
1.1. The Sapir College vision statement begins with the following declaration:
Sapir College opens its doors to students, employees and lecturers from a wide range of cultural, economic and geographical backgrounds, and provides them with a rich intellectual, social and student experience.  

1.2. Sapir College is committed to human dignity and the principle of equality which derives from it.  Decisions regarding employees, lecturers and students are made solely on the basis of merit:  ability, suitability and achievement.  

1.3. Sapir College aspires to provide equal opportunities to its students, as well as to its employees and lecturers, and is strongly opposed to any form of discrimination.  Deviation from this principle could constitute a breach of basic principles.

2. The Students’ Rights Law
2.1. Sapir College is committed to the provisions of Israeli law, and, inter alia, is committed to preventing any discrimination against either applicants or current students, pursuant to the provisions of Section 4 of the Students’ Rights Law, 5767-2007, which states: 
4 Ban on Discrimination
(a) This institution will not discriminate against applicants or students for reasons of their or their parents’ ethnic or national origins, their socioeconomic background or for reasons of religion, nationality, sex or place of residence, in each of the following activities:
(1) Registration for studies and acceptance to the institution;
(2) Acceptance for any field of study;
(3) Acceptance for special courses of study.
(b) …
(c) Student registration forms will not include any demand to provide information about the country of origin, religion or nationality, of the applicant or his/her parents; …”

2.2. Accordingly, the College does not require applicants to provide it with information about their or their parents’ country of origin, religion or nationality.

2.3. Applicants for studies at the College or in any particular department or course, and students at the College, will be examined on the basis of their achievements, abilities and degree of suitability for study in any particular department or course of studies at the College, without consideration of such external elements as ethnicity, country of origin, socioeconomic background, religion, nationality, sex or place of residence.

3. Equal Opportunities at Work Law
As a law-abiding entity Sapir College  operates according to the provisions of the Equal Opportunities at Work Law, 5748-1988, which forbids employers to discriminate between their employees or applicants for work, on all matters relating to acceptance of applicants, terms of employment, promotion, training or professional courses, or dismissal and benefits relating to dismissal from work, on the basis of such irrelevant considerations as sex, sexual orientation, personal status, pregnancy, fertility treatments, in vitro fertilization treatments, parental status, age, race, religion, nationality, country of origin, place of residence, political views, or either their or their spouse’s military reserves duty.  This applies to all matters of acceptance for work, terms of employment, promotion, training or professional courses, or dismissal and benefits relating to dismissal, and payments given to employees in connection with dismissal from work.

4. Academic Ethical Code for Teaching Staff and Academic Research Staff
4.1. Based on the recommendations of the Higher Education Council’s Sub-Committee on the Prevention of Academic Discrimination, the academic ethical code which applies to all members of the teaching staff and academic research staff at the College (approved by the College’s Academic Council in February 2012) states inter alia:   
(a) The fundamental goals of the College are to promote access to academic education and ensure equality of opportunity in its acquisition; to promote the fields of knowledge and education; and to foster lives of culture, intellect, creativity and critical discourse among the College’s academic staff and researchers, and within the community and society in which it operates.  In order to promote these goals, the College operates as a non-profit organization, serving the fields of education, research and culture, and does not exist in order to promote commercial or political goals, whatever their value may be. 
(b) In order to implement these fundamental goals, the College and its employees are committed to respect human dignity and rights, without distinction for reasons of religion, nationality, race, sex, sexual orientation, origin or political outlook.  The existence of an internal policy of equality, avoidance of discrimination and respect for human rights is a fundamental condition for realization of the College’s values and objectives.  Any discrimination in areas of College activity – including acceptance for studies, employment, promotion and so forth – damages its obligation to ensure that every opinion, position and theory is given a fair opportunity for expression and fair exposure to criticism.

4.2. This ethical code applies to all members of the College’s teaching and research staff, and any breach is liable to constitute a disciplinary offense.

5. Partnership, Equity, and Diversity
The College is also served by a Dean for Gender Equity, Equality, and Diversity, as well as a Presidential Advisor and Ombudsperson for Partnership and Diversity, who work to advance an inclusive, equitable, and respectful academic environment for all students, faculty, and staff.

6. Summary
This document presents the policy of Sapir College on all matters relating to equality of opportunity and avoidance of discrimination in the framework of its activity.  Sapir College requires all its employees and members of its teaching staff to be meticulous in observing the provisions as specified above, and acts to prevent any discrimination in the framework of its activity as a recognized institution of higher education.