Civil Rights

Welcome to the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension Affirmative Action Web site section. Cooperative Extension makes it a priority to reach out to diverse audiences across the state of Delaware, our region and the country. University of Delaware Cooperative Extension strives to offer equal access to educational programs and equal opportunity in employment for people without discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation,  disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. University of Delaware Extension adheres to federal and state statues, regulations and University policies regarding civil rights in our role as a cooperator with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

Web-based information on our civil rights policies and services are organized for our public and our staff members in the following way:

• “Commitment to Non-discrimination” outlines some strategies Cooperative Extension uses to inform people of our non-discrimination policy and provides both the long and short non-discrimination statements to be used on publications and promotional flyers.
• “Commitment to Special Needs” University of Delaware Cooperative Extension welcomes and encourages public participation of their programs,events, and workshops scheduled for the public. All reasonable efforts will be used to meet the accessibility requests. Please contact the office two weeks prior to event to request assistance with any special needs you may have.
• “Complaint Procedures” refers to the process to be used to raise discrimination-related issues regarding Extension programs and the instructions individuals can use to file complaints.

As our state becomes more diverse, Extension staff and partners are challenged to ensure civil rights compliance and equal access to our programs. The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension has a commitment to assuring that all of its educational efforts are in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other federal and state laws and regulations.

To assist our system in understanding these Acts and how to plan educational efforts to meet the requirements, a team of Extension personnel are available to support and evaluate Cooperative Extension program and employment initiatives. We are committed to ongoing staff development to ensure understanding of Extension’s civil rights goals, equal opportunity in employment and access to programs and services by the public across the state. I invite your creative ideas and comments as we move forward to implement this important aspect of our work together, and look forward to seeing you at the great variety of Extension programs offered throughout the state each year.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michelle Rodgers
Director of Extension
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources