Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Non-Discrimination Statement

The commitment of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Illinois) to the most fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality of opportunity, and human dignity requires that decisions involving students and employees be based on merit and be free from invidious discrimination in all its forms. This policy is designed to promote a safe and healthy learning and work environment and to comply with multiple laws that prohibit discrimination, including: 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, and the Illinois Human Rights Act. This policy and the associated procedures are established to provide a means to address complaints of discrimination or harassment based on the protected categories described herein.

It is the policy of the University not to engage in discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, disability, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, age, order of protection status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation including gender identity, arrest record status, unfavorable discharge from the military, or status as a protected veteran and to comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination, equal opportunity, and affirmative action laws, orders, and regulations (Illinois Extension).

Cooperative Extension Services

The 1914 Smith-Lever Act Extension created the Cooperative Extension Service (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 and 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.

Meaningful and Reasonable Accommodation

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 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, prohibiting discrimination based on national origin, and Executive Order 13166 issued in 2000. This Executive Order states that persons who are LEP should have meaningful access to federally conducted and federally funded programs and activities. Many individual federal programs, states, and localities also have provisions requiring language services for LEP individuals.

• Language access means providing persons with limited English proficiency (LEP) 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. 

Reasonable Efforts and Accommodation

“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 NIFA-USDA, Illinois Extension has a responsibility to provide meaningful and reasonable accommodations. Furthermore, the formality of these accommodation processes creates opportunities to meet the diverse needs of the people of Illinois.