50th Anniversary of the Bureau of Equal Opportunity

​The Bureau of Civil Rights, now, the Bureau of Equal Opportunity (BEO) was formed on February 15, 1972, as a division within the Bureau of Personnel. BEO was assigned the responsibility of planning, directing, and administering the Department's Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity, and Title VI programs.  

Over time, BEO's responsibilities increased in the areas of affirmative action and contract compliance.  Additional Affirmative Action programs were assigned to BEO, including the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, On-the-Job Trainee and supportive services programs, the state Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program, now known as the Diverse Business Program, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Program.  Though BEO has gone through many incarnations, the primary objective remains the same: "to ensure fair treatment for all." 

Julius McCoy, BEO's first director, was a famed basketball player, educator, and Civil Rights advocate. He is shown in the accompanying photo, as one of Pennsylvania's Department of Highway (now PennDOT) representatives, at the signing of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1968, in Washington DC. 

The present-day Bureau team carries on the mission to ensure compliance with all related federal and state non-discrimination laws, regulations, directives, and Executive Orders in all department programs and activities by supporting PennDOT, its customers, employees, and stakeholders through program administration, education, outreach, and Civil Rights advocacy.