Compliance Responsibilities

Non-Discrimination

The commitment of the University of Illinois System to the most fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality of opportunity, and human dignity requires that decisions involving students and employees be based on individual merit and be free from invidious
discrimination in all its forms.
 

The University of Illinois System will not engage in discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, order of protection status, genetic information, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation including gender identity, unfavorable discharge from the military or status as a protected veteran and will comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action laws, orders and regulations. This nondiscrimination policy applies to admissions, employment, access to and treatment in the programs and activities of the University of Illinois System.

This policy is designed to promote a safe and healthy learning and work environment and to comply with all applicable state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination, including but not limited to: Equal Pay Act of 1963, Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Act, the Vietnam-Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, the Illinois Human Rights Act, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. This policy and the associated procedures are established to provide a means to address complaints of discrimination or harassment based on the protected classifications described her herein.

Cooperative Extension Services

The 1914 Smith-Lever Act Extension created the Cooperative Extension System (CES) associated with each land-grant institution. This partnership between agricultural colleges and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) enables the dissemination of information produced by the experiment stations’ research.
 

 CES is operated through the nation’s Land-Grant University System in partnership with the federal, state and local governments. As the federal partner, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) develops methods to address national priorities, funds, and awards grants, and provides program leadership. The agency supports both the universities and local CES offices to bring science directly to the regional and county level (NIFA). University of Illinois Extension receives federal funding from NIFA through the United States Department of Agriculture. All NIFA recipients of federal financial assistance are required to take meaningful steps to ensure reasonable accommodations. Illinois Extension complies with federal and state civil rights laws and policies that prohibit discrimination in programs and activities that receive federal funding. As such, Extension engages in strategic processes to comply with these guidelines and expectations.

Reasonable Accommodation in Employment Policy

The purpose of this policy is to promote equal access to employment opportunities and other programs and activities of the university. This policy sets forth the rights of university employees and other individuals to reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws.

This policy applies to all university employees (including undergraduate and graduate student employees in their employment context), applicants for employment and visitors and guests to the university. Student academic accommodations under Student Code Sections 1-107 and 1-110 and the Pregnancy and Related Conditions Policy are outside the scope of this policy. Please see the Processes/Procedures/Guidelines section for more information.

This policy applies to all other individuals in university programs and activities who are entitled to reasonable accommodations under applicable federal or state law unless otherwise provided for in university policy.

Reasonable Accommodation Efforts 

All reasonable effort is defined as having made special efforts to identify and reach individuals within underserved groups. A reasonable accommodation is a change or modification that affords a qualified individual with a disability full enjoyment of an entity’s programs or activities. Accommodations do not need to be granted if such modifications of policies, practices, and procedures would fundamentally alter the nature of the program, service, or activity, or result in undue financial and administrative burdens to the entity. Reasonable accommodation may include, but is not limited to:

• Making existing facilities readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities.
• Job restructuring, modifying work schedules, or a reassignment to a vacant position;
• Acquiring or modifying equipment or devices, training materials, policies, etc.; or
• Providing qualified readers or interpreters. 

As a recipient of federal funding through USDA-NIFA, Illinois Extension has a responsibility to provide reasonable accommodations. Furthermore, the formality of these accommodation processes creates opportunities to meet the diverse needs of the people of Illinois.

Limited English Proficiency

Individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English can be limited English proficient, or LEP. These individuals may be entitled to language assistance with respect to a particular type or service, benefit, or encounter.”

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Title VI regulations prohibit discrimination based on national origin. 

• Language access means providing persons with limited English proficiency with reasonable access to the same materials, programs, and services as English-speaking individuals.
• Language access needs should be included in the planning and implementation of everything we do.
• Language access can be facilitated through interpretation and translation services, as well as the use of assistive devices (or assistive technology) to help individuals with hearing loss or a voice, speech, or language disorder to communicate. 

Language Access Plan

Public Notification

Each USDA agency and recipient, including Cooperative Extension, is required to implement a public notification plan. Illinois Extension public notification plan demonstrates its goals of making reasonable efforts to reach all audiences, ensuring equal opportunity to participate, providing information about accommodations and language access, communicating participants' civil rights protections, and documenting outreach efforts.