KTEP Diversity Statement

Updated April 2025

KTEP-FM is a department within the University of Texas at El Paso, and therefore follows the diversity initiatives set forth by the university. Currently the university has in place the President's Advisory Group on Diversity at The University of Texas at El Paso, which seeks to foster and model a campus environment that is welcoming, accessible and inclusive to all students, faculty, staff and visitors. Our purpose is to promote diversity as a strength and an institutional value, as well as a core element of academic and professional excellence.

KTEP is a radio broadcast organization, as such we have the responsibility to reflect the diverse culture, issues and viewpoints found in this border community. The purpose of KTEP Diversity Statement serves as a commitment to producing and delivering content, and to fostering a work culture that broadens our and our audience’s understanding of various cultures and communities.

As part of the university, KTEP is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. The University, in the administration of its employment policies and practices, will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment because of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or disability. The University will take affirmative steps to ensure that applicants are employed, and employees are treated, during employment, in a non-discriminatory manner. The University’s commitment to equal opportunity principles applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, promotion, compensation, benefits, and training. UTEP’s commitment to providing equal opportunity also applies to students, applicants for admission and other beneficiaries seeking access to our programs, facilities or services.

Our institutional commitment to these policies provides for selection procedures based upon objective, defensible qualifications; promotions based upon documented performance, merit, and potential achievement; evaluations which are accurate and unbiased; and a complaint process which is fair and equitable. In addition, the University commits itself to increased recruitment efforts to assure that qualified minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with a disability are represented in the applicant pool and are evaluated equitably by search committees or administrative personnel.

KTEP has instituted a volunteer and internship program designed to allow qualified individuals the chance to gain experience at a professional radio station. Students and community volunteers at KTEP are treated the same as employees of the university with regards to equal opportunity and affirmative action. Both KTEP’s employees and volunteer staff reflect the diversity of the El Paso region.

The KTEP workforce is relatively small with a low rate of turnover. As vacancies and new positions emerge, we are guided by The University of Texas at Austin’s nondiscrimination policy, and disability accommodations for applicants, as well as the university’s commitments to equal opportunity and diversity.

Since the last update of this statement, there were no vacancies to report.

The following examples demonstrate KTEP’s progress to embrace diversity:

During this reporting period UT El Paso held (5) five orientations designed to provide high school students with information about the educational and career opportunities at the university. KTEP participated in these events and provided participants with general information about the radio station along with volunteer, internship, and work-study information.

The dates and the number of students that participated are as follows:

June 20, 2024—205 students
June 27, 2024—203 students
July 18, 2024—166 students
August 1, 2024—113 students
August 8, 2024—57 students

KTEP has an on-going internship program which is supervised by the KTEP General Manager. KTEP currently employs 6 part-time students from the University of Texas at El Paso. This is an increase of two additional students compared to last year. The KTEP internship program (paid) provides real-world training in radio broadcasting. Thus, providing these individuals with the skills necessary to become gainfully employed in the broadcast industry. This training consists of on-air broadcast operations, equipment operation, and digital production training. KTEP also recruits volunteers (non-paid) from both the university and the community. They assist the station in various aspects of the station’s operations such as hosting on-air programs, producing programs and fundraising (pledge drives).

KTEP had an information booth set up at the Jazz Exchange Festival which took place on June 29, 2024 with 296 participants receiving information.

All KTEP employees and paid students are required by the University of Texas at El Paso to participate in Compliance Training once a year. This training is conducted by the Human Resources Department at the University and is designed to teach managers how to determine specific behaviors that are necessary for success on the job, and how to demonstrate those behaviors regardless of race, ethnicity or gender. Moreover, all KTEP employees and interns are required to participate in harassment training conducted by CPB (Corporation for Public Broadcasting).