The number of University minority employees increased by 16 percent in 1988, a year also marked by a 3 percent increase in complaints filed to the University's Affirmative Action Office, the office reported.

External and internal complaints of racial discrimination increased 43 percent between 1987 and 1988, with 83 complaints filed last year, a report released to the Faculty Senate Wednesday indicates.

Black faculty and staff increased by 16.4 percent, or 50 individuals; Hispanic faculty and staff increased by 63.9 percent, or 39 individuals, the report says.

Native American professional non-faculty employees increased from four to eight. Asian or Pacific Islander skilled-craft employees increased from zero to two and faculty increased from 217 to 231.

The Affirmative Action Office complaint summary for 1988 lists 112 total cases of sex discrimination including sexual harassment, 28 more than last year.

A formal complaint is signed and filed with the Affirmative Action Office and requires an investigation, said Affirmative Action Specialist Carmen Borges in a Feb. 20 interview. People accused of discrimination or harassment and their supervisors are notified in writing about the complaint and the complainant, Borges said.

Informal complaints -- which are also included within the internal category -- do not require a signature and are confidential, she said.

Increased employment of women and minorities can be attributed to an emphasis among University officials on diversifying the faculty and staff, and to the tone set by University President Bryce Jordan, said Janet Davison, senior employment specialist.

"(Jordan) made it very clear over a year ago that he wanted the University to improve Penn State's climate," Davison said.

In a March 11, 1987 memo to the Council of Academic Deans, Jordan asked the search committee chairpersons to submit at least one qualified woman and at least one qualified minority candidate for academic administrative positions. This is a standard procedure in most affirmative action programs.

If the council is unable to do this, credentials of the leading woman and minority candidates in the pool will be considered and a special effort will be made by the president's office to recruit any qualified women and minority candidates who declined consideration, according to the memo.

A copy of this memo was given to members of Concerned African-Americans at Penn State, Administrative Vice President Carol Herrman said, adding that this was not the only memo concerning minority and women faculty and staff recruitment efforts but it was the main one.

Search committees understand the importance of recruiting women and minority candidates, Herrman added.

Moises Torrescano, assistant affirmative action officer, could not be reached for comment yesterday.