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.
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.
Accommodation Statement (ADA Statement A)
Approved Language
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.
Statement Use
For in-person and virtual events, workshops, and classes, this is commonly referred to as the accommodation statement. If you have questions about how to respond to a requested accommodation, contact Camaya Wallace Bechard. This is typically included near registration details. When possible, replace "event coordinator" in the statement with the name and email of the actual staff member who is handling the accommodations requests.
Accommodations Statement for Online Learning (ADA Statement B)
Approved Language
If you experience any problems accessing or receiving the information in this course, or have feedback on the design, please email extension@illinois.edu for assistance.
Statement Use
This notice will be embedded in all Extension Online Courses. To promote an online learning experience, use the ADA Statement A listed above.
College Affiliation
Approved Language
College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.
Statement Use
Required on all Extension publications, documents, videos, websites, and merchandise. It may appear anywhere in the document. See Extension Branding and Wordmark Best Practices Guide for more info.
Cooperating Statement
Approved Language
University of Illinois, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Local Extension Councils Cooperating.
Statement Use
University of Illinois, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Local Extension Councils Cooperating
Copyright Statement
Approved Language
©2026 University of Illinois Board of Trustees. For permission to reprint, revise, or otherwise use, contact extension@illinois.edu.
Statement Use
Use this on educational materials, including publications, training guides, and presentations. Marketing materials do not need the copyright notation, except for branded or trademarked creatives. The date should advance each year.
EEO Equal Opportunity Statement (for print)
Approved Language
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.
Statement Use
Required on all print or digital documents, usually in combination with the Cooperating Statement. This statement is included in the official Extension video bumper, which can be found on the CommIT website.
Extension Boilerplate for News Releases
Approved Language
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 500 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 five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy. Learn more at extension.illinois.edu.
Statement Use
Include with all media releases — also known as news releases or press releases — as the final paragraph of a release. May also be used in other settings where you need a simple, straightforward summary of Illinois Extension and our portfolio of work and programs
Physical Address (CAN-SPAM)
Approved Language
[insert your office's details] Physical address, phone number, email address
Statement Use
To comply with the CAN-SPAM Act, a physical address is required for all digital newsletters. Include the contact information for the office someone would reach out to with questions, such as a local, regional, or state office.
Smith-Lever Fund Statement (if needed)
Approved Language
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.
Statement Use
When Smith-Lever funds are used for printing, this statement should be included in text — typically in the footer of the last page with the Cooperating Statement and the Equal Opportunity Statement. Other funding sources, such as grants and contracts, may have their own restrictions on how funds may be used. It is up to grant recipients to ensure proper language compliance.