3.46 / Veterans and Disability Employment and Promotion Preference

1. Disability: A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of an individual, as defined under K.S.A Section 44-1140.
2. Disability Preference: A preference in the employment and promotion of persons with a Disability for certain state government positions in accordance with this policy, and federal and state law, including K.S.A. Section 44-1139, et seq.
3. University: Wichita State University and Controlled Affiliated Organizations.
4. Veteran: For purposes of this policy, a veteran is a person who (a) served in the active military, naval, air or space service, including those groups and individuals listed under 38 C.F.R. § 3.7, and who was discharged or released therefrom under honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions; (b) has been issued the purple heart by the United States government; (c) was honorably discharged or generally discharged under honorable conditions from active military, naval, air or space service, including those groups and individuals listed under 38 C.F.R. § 3.7, and received a disability that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty that has been certified by the Kansas office of veterans services as being service-connected, pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1101 et seq. or 10 U.S.C. § 1201 et seq.; (d) is the spouse of a service-connected disabled veteran (as defined under K.S.A. Section 73-201) with a permanent and total combined service-connected evaluation percentage of 100%; (e) is the surviving spouse of a veteran who died in the line of duty in the active military, naval, air or space service; or (f) is the spouse of a prisoner of war, as defined by K.S.A. 75-4364, and amendments thereto.
5. Veterans Preference: A preference in the employment and promotion of Veterans for certain government positions in accordance with this policy, and federal and state law, including K.S.A. Section 73-201, et seq.

Veterans Preference Documentation

1. Any person wishing to be considered for the Veterans Preference must provide sufficient documentation showing that the applicant meets the definition of Veteran in this policy.
2. Applicants requesting Veterans Preference under Sections IV.A.4(a) or (b) of this policy must provide a fully completed DD-214 form for the service member.
3. Applicants requesting Veterans Preference under Sections IV.A.4(c) or (d) of this policy must provide the following:
   1. A fully completed DD-214 form for the service member;
   2. Documentation in the form of a letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that is dated within the last 12 months to verify that any disability serving as the basis for Veterans' Preference is service-connected, as well as the percentage of the service-connected disability; and
   3. For spousal applicants under Section IV.A.4(d), a copy of a marriage license must also be provided.
4. A spousal applicant wishing to be considered for a Veterans Preference under Section IV.A.4(e) of this policy must provide the following documentation:
   1. A fully completed DD-214 form for the service member;
   2. A copy of the death certificate for the service member;
   3. An official letter or notice from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs showing that the service member died while serving in the armed forces; and
   4. A copy of a marriage license.
5. A spousal applicant wishing to be considered for a Veterans Preference under Section IV.A.4(f) of this policy must provide the following documentation:
   1. A fully completed DD-214 form for the service member;
   2. An official letter or notice from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs showing that the service member is a prisoner of war; and
   3. A copy of a marriage license.
6. All required documentation must be submitted to the Office of Human Resources for verification. Documentation can be submitted by fax to 316-978-3201 or by email to employment@wichita.edu.

Disability Preference Documentation

1. Any person wishing to be considered for a Disability Preference must submit documentation to show that they have a Disability. Acceptable documentation includes any one or more of the following:
   1. Supplemental security income or social security disability insurance determination letter;
   2. Letter from a managed care organization or a qualified medical professional attesting to the disability;
   3. Home and community-based services waiver approval letter; or
   4. Vocational rehabilitation letter from a vocational rehabilitation counselor.
2. All required documentation must be submitted to the Office of Human Resources for verification. Documentation can be submitted by fax to 316-978-3201 or by email to totalrewards@wichita.edu.
3. Any Applicant who previously submitted documentation who wishes to discontinue their voluntary disclosure of disability and eligibility for Disability Preference should contact the Office of Human Resources at 316-978-3065 or by email at totalrewards@wichita.edu.