Required Statements

Extension was authorized by the passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914. The federal law established the Cooperative Extension Service to be administered through each state’s land-grant university. In Illinois, Extension operates through the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Funding for Extension includes federal funds and grants, state funds and grants (through the Illinois Department of Agriculture), local municipalities (both allocations and tax levies), and private donations. With this complex funding structure comes specific requirements for transparent acknowledgment of affiliations, as well as adherence to all non-discrimination and accessibility policies of the federal and state governments and the university.

Download the Required Statements Best Practices Guide.

When to use what

Use case examples below highlight which statements are required for common Extension materials.

Promotional Flyer | Marketing Brochure

  • Extension wordmark
  • ACES College affiliation
  • Cooperating statement
  • Equal opportunity statement
  • ADA statement A (if promoting a meeting, event, or webinar)
  • Contact information

Social Media Posts and Graphics

  • Block I logo
  • Extension Name

Video (all items included in the official Extension video bumper)

  • Block I logo
  • Extension Name
  • ACES College affiliation
  • Cooperating statement
  • Equal opportunity statement

Print Newsletters

  • Extension wordmark
  • ACES College affiliation
  • Cooperating statement
  • Equal opportunity statement
  • ADA statement A (if promoting a meeting, event, or webinar)
  • Contact information

E-newsletter

  • Extension wordmark
  • ACES College affiliation
  • Cooperating statement (typically a link in footer)
  • Equal opportunity statement (typically a link in footer)
  • ADA statement A (if promoting a meeting, event, or webinar)
  • Physical address of the office sending the newsletter
  • Copyright statement (if including educational content)

Print Curriculum | Educational Publications

  • Extension wordmark on the cover of the publication
  • ACES College affiliation
  • ADA statement B (if course permanently housed online)
  • Copyright statement
  • Cooperating statement
  • Equal opportunity statement
  • Smith-Lever statement (if applicable)

Powerpoint

  • Block I logo
  • Extension Name
  • Copyright statement
  • Cooperating statement
  • Equal opportunity statement 
  • ADA statement B

Website

  • Cooperating statement (typically a link in footer)
  • Equal opportunity statement (typically a link in footer)
  • Web Privacy Notice (typically a link in footer)

Statement Verbiage

Find all required and situational Extension statements below.

College Affiliation

College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

Cooperating Statement

University of Illinois, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Local Extension Councils Cooperating.

EEO Equal Opportunity Statement

University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

Copyright Statement

©2024 University of Illinois Board of Trustees. For permission to reprint, revise, or otherwise use, contact extension@illinois.edu.

Accommodation Statement

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact the event coordinator. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your needs.

Smith-Lever Fund Statement (if needed)

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the US Department of Agriculture by the Director, Cooperative Extension Service, and University of Illinois.

Extension Boilerplate for News Releases

University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities—community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy. Learn more at extension.illinois.edu.