Title VI: In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating 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, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Title VI if the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title VII: Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. EEOC Title VII
USDA’s Non-Discrimination Policy
AD2106 Form to Assist in Assessment of USDA Compliance With Civil Rights Laws
Discrimination Complaint Procedures
UT System Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity
Prohibits employers from discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or national origin by contractors and subcontractors that receive federal contracts, grants, loans, insurance or guarantee. Executive Order 11246
HR 0220 – Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
Equal Employment Opportunity in the University of Tennessee Extension
Title IX states: No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. US Department of Education Title IX website
Rehabilitation act of 1974, Section 504
The American’s with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) protects qualified individuals with disabilities from employment and program discrimination. UT Extension treats the needs of every qualified individual on a case-by-case basis depending on the circumstances of the particular employment or program situation. Reasonable accommodations will be for qualified persons participating in Extension programs, applicants for Extension positions, and current employees.
The ADA was modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The ADA is an equal opportunity law for people with disabilities. US Americans with Disabilities Act website
According to Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act a reasonable accommodation (RA) is a modification or adjustment to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done during the hiring process. USDA Reasonable Accommodation website
- A modification or adjustment to a job application process that enables a qualified applicant with a disability to be considered for the position.
- A modification or adjustment to the work environment that enables an employee with a disability to perform the essential functions of that position.
- A modification or adjustment that enables an employee with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as employees without disabilities.
US Department of Labor Accommodations
Job Accommodation Network Accommodation Tool
Accommodations for Faculty, Staff, and Visitors my be requested through the Office of Equity & Diversity. See the website Requesting an ADA Accommodation or OED ADA Brochure for more information
American Sign Language Card
Interpreter Request Form: https://oed.utk.edu/interpreter-request/
Bridges for the Deaf and Hearing. UT Vendor #1039282 (fee-based)
https://www.bridgesfordeafandhh.org/
Zoom Sign Language Interpretation View
https://oit.utk.edu/news/new-sign-language-view/
The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. The Age Discrimination Act of 1975
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) protects certain applicants and employees 40 years of age and older from discrimination on the basis of age in hiring, promotion, discharge, compensation, or terms, conditions or privileges of employment. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 states that recipients of federal funds must comply with civil rights legislation in all areas not just programming activity. Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987
The Civil Rights Restoration act of 1991 provides the right to trial by jury on discrimination claims and introduced the possibility of emotional distress damages and limitations on the amount a jury could award. Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1991
Executive Order 13166, “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency,” requires Federal agencies to examine the services they provide, identify any need for services to those with limited English proficiency (LEP), and develop and implement a system to provide those services so LEP persons can have meaningful access to them. LEP.gov
UT Extension will follow the guidance from the Office of Equity and Diversity’s Limited English Proficiency section of the Civil Rights Report and Implementation Plan. The LEP section is in section 10 pages 15 – 18.
Reporting language requests is done through SUPER > Delivery.
Translation Resources from LEP.gov. Resources include translation guides, I Speak cards to help identify a persons language, translated non-discrimination taglines, and other resources.
https://www.lep.gov/translation#toc-language-identification-and-i-speak-cards
The below services are available to units within the university. Please note these are paid services.
Avaza Language Service Corp.
Phone: 615-534-3400 or 800-482-8292
Website: http:Avaza.co
Email: Info@avaza.co
Avaza Quick Card – Card with instructions for placing a call to Avaza Language Services
Linguistica International
Phone: (866) 908-5744 (toll free)
Website: https://www.linguisticainternational.com/translations/
Email: contact@www.linguisticainternational.com
Linguistica International Language ID Card – Card used to determine which language a person is speaking
UT Tennessee Language Center
Interpretation & Translation Services
Parity
The overall civil rights goal for Extension programs is to meet parity and have balance participation. An Extension program is in parity when the participation of individuals from minority groups reflects the proportionate representation in the population of potential recipients. Requirements for balanced participation is also required for all advisory councils and committees. A program will be considered in compliance when its participation has reached 80% of parity.
Parity Equation: (% makeup of group X 100) divided by % makeup of the community
For example, if a county-wide 4-H club has 10% Hispanic participants and the county has a 20% Hispanic population, the 4-H club is at 50% of parity [(10/20) X 100]. Because the level of parity is less than 80%, all reasonable efforts will need to be made to increase participation by underrepresented groups.
All Reasonable Effort
All reasonable effort it required when the demographics of Extension program participants do not reflect the demographics of the community. All reasonable efforts go beyond traditional advertising methods and would include:
- Use of available mass media, including radio, newspaper, television, websites, social media, etc., to inform potential recipients of programs and the opportunity to participate.
- Create brochures, posters and fliers to inform potential recipients of programs and the opportunity to participate.
- Send personal letters and invitations addressed to defined potential recipients inviting them to participate. Letters must include dates and place of meetings and other planned activities.
- Personal visits or phone calls to encourage participation by a representative number of defined potential recipients in the geographically defined area.
- Networking with other groups, i.e., church groups, grassroots organizations, housing and health agencies, agricultural, youth and family agencies, to identify undeserved audiences.
Public notification informs the public that Extension does not discriminate and that programs and services are open to everyone. The full nondiscrimination statement must be included on all print and non-print materials including but not limited to , audio, video, websites, brochures, newsletters, etc.
Full Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, and American Sign Language) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which can be obtained online at https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: (1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agricuure Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or (2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or (3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Short Version of the Nondiscrimination Statement
The University of Tennessee is and equal opportunity provider
Reasonable Accommodation and Language Access Notices
Extension is required to notify individuals with disabilities and Limited English Proficiency of their right to free accommodations and language assistance. These notices should be placed on public documents and communications, i.e., website, email, etc. that announce events and activities. Language access notices should be placed in locations with a lot of LEP traffic. An example reasonable accommodation and language access notice is below.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Name, Title, Email, Pone no later than [Date at least one week prior to event]. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to limited English proficient individuals upon request.
UTK’s EEO/AA Statements/Non-Discrimination Statement
UT’s Non-Discrimination Statement
These posters should be placed in a conspicuous location in the workplace where notices to applicants and employees are customarily posted. EEO is the Law website
The appropriate “And Justice for All” poster is to be prominently displayed in all offices where there is a USDA presence and where it may be read by customers. USDA And Justice for All website
Here is a listing of interior signage that are required to be posted in each office.
Title VI and Title IX training is conducted on an annual requirement and is assigned all employees in the Fall of each year. Training completion is monitored by supervisors to ensure employees have met the training requirement.