Civil Rights

As a land-grant university, Central State University is committed to the value of diversity, access, and inclusion, and steadfastly adheres to equal opportunity and non-discrimination principals in all aspects of employment for our staff and to all community members seeking to participate in our programs and activities.


Under Title VI and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as amended, and various federal and state laws and university policies, as well as our personal and organizational beliefs and values, we are collectively committed to the elimination of discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, marital or family status, military status, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Moreover, we strictly prohibit reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.


In fulfilling these commitments, our university Extension administrations will:

  • Promote the development of an employment environment that is supportive of equity and diversity principles.
  • Ensure that our policies and practices respect the social and cultural diversity contained within our organizations, including volunteer staff and Advisory Leadership Councils, and the communities we serve.
  • Provide equal opportunity by actively identifying and remedying barriers to participation and progression in employment and participation by all in our programs.
  • Expect a working and learning environment free from unlawful discrimination, including harassment.
  • Comply with state and federal legislation and university policies on non-discrimination and equal opportunity.
  • Provide unfettered access to complaint resolution avenues, free from retaliation or reprisal, for all employees and program participants.


All Extension staff are expected to understand equal opportunity laws and guidelines, and to be in compliance with USDA-NIFA and university guidelines.


For more information on USDA-NIFA civil rights and equal employment resources, please go to: http://nifa.usda.gov/civil-rights-equal-employment-opportunity.


Our institution provides an annual statement on equal opportunity and non-discrimination: 2019 Annual Equal Opportunity and Non-discrimination Statement


For more information
Civil Rights laws, compliance, and training


Civil Rights Federal Laws and Regulations
Central State University Extension, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and its land-grant partners recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion in the development and implementation of Extension programs and activities. These Extension programs and activities must treat every customer and employee with fairness, equality, and respect. This applies to all aspects of the Extension programs and activities, including identifying needs, setting priorities, allocating resources, selecting and assigning staff, conducting programs, and obtaining feedback.
USDA Civil Rights compliance reviews are conducted consistent with the following major statutes and Departmental Regulations:

Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title VI

Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title VII

Civil Rights Act of 1991

Education Amendments of 1972, Title IX

Equal Pay Act of 1963

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

Pregnancy Discrimination Act

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Sections 503 and 504

Titles I and V Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended

Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended

ADA Guide for State & Local Government

Executive Order 11246: Equal Employment Opportunity

Executive Order 13166: Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency

USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights; Regulations and Departmental Directives


Civil Rights Plan


Civil Rights Policies

  • Non-Discrimination/Equal Opportunity Policy
    Central State University, an 1890 Land-Grant Institution, is committed to the full inclusion of all people, and does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, marital or family status, military status, national origin, political beliefs, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status:
  • Limited English Proficiency Policy
    In accordance with our organizational values, CSU Extension is committed to providing timely, meaningful access to its programs and activities to persons who, as a result of their national origin, are Limited in English Proficiency (LEP). The purpose of this policy is to ensure that no person is subject to prohibited discrimination based on their language, ancestry, or any other identity marker associated with one’s national origin. All staff shall take reasonable steps to ensure LEP persons have meaningful access to Extension programs, activities, and services at no cost to the LEP person.
  • LEP Resources:
    • ISpeak Card
    • USDA ISpeak
    • Language Poster
    • https://articles.extension.org/sites/default/files/LanguageAccessPlan2017_10-20.pdf


Civil Rights Statements

  • Annual Equal Opportunity and Non-discrimination Statement
  • Commitment to Diversity
  • Inclusive Campus
  • Public Notification


Civil Rights Compliance Resources
The CSU Extension rigorously provides training and resources to raise awareness of our roles and responsibilities regarding Civil Rights and EEO. The Smith-Lever Act, and subsequent amendments, dictate that Extension programs be designed to serve all the people. This includes all socioeconomic classes as well as the protected classes identified in Civil Rights laws and regulations. It is important for staff to have ready access to resources to address their specialized and/or difficult questions and issues.​

All Extension staff, volunteers, and advisory board members will follow the intent and requirements of Civil Rights laws and regulations, and are expected to:

  • Avoid discriminatory exclusion in the workforce and in program and activities participation.
  • Remediate situations in which there is underutilization or under-representation resulting from prior discrimination.
  • Make all reasonable efforts to encourage people from underrepresented groups to seek employment in Cooperative Extension and to participate in programs and activities.


All reasonable efforts include:

  • Creating awareness (e.g. notification of opportunity by direct contact, mailings and mass media),
  • Assuring access (e.g. appropriate selection of time and location for events; preventing inappropriate pre-employment inquiries)
  • Providing utility (e.g. offering programs of interest to the targeted audience; using only bona fide occupational qualifications to evaluate candidates).


Civil Rights Compliance Tools:

  • County Civil Rights File Recommended Documentation
  • Civil Rights Compliance Checklist (annually completed by CEDs)
  • Compliance Review Guide (5 year rotation completed by REDs)
  • USDA Compliance Guide Description of Race and Ethnicity Data
  • Sample Participant Demographic Data Collection Cards
  • Sample Sign-in Sheet
  • Club Non-Discrimination Form
  • MOU between Central State University and The Ohio State University Extensions


Civil Rights Complaint Procedures
It is important that the Extension promptly addresses any concerns about discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment. Discrimination or harassment is addressed by Central State University’s Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Policy. Complaints related to civil rights compliance in Extension programs and activities may be filed by any individual, group of program participant, or potential program participant. In addition, the public must be told of their right to file a discrimination complaint.


Policy
The public is told of the right to file a complaint through the use of two posters:  1) the USDA "And Justice for All" poster; and 2) the Central State University Sexual and Discrimination Harassment poster. These posters must be visibly displayed in Extension meeting rooms and the main office. The USDA poster advises participants that they can file complaints with the Office of Civil Rights at USDA. This office will investigate and resolve complaints of discrimination in programs operated or assisted by USDA, including Cooperative Extension programs. The CSU poster directs clients and employees to a number of resources on the campus.

  • Another means in which the public is told of this right to lodge a discrimination complaint is by providing clients the CSU Discrimination Complaint Notification brochure. The complaint notification brochure is for use by CSU employees when there is an allegation of a civil rights violation by program participants. This complaint notification should be provided to all Extension program participants on request or when a complaint is made known. The complaint notification offers the following contacts for persons that feel they have been denied access to programs or activities on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, marital or family status, military status, national origin, political beliefs, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status:
    • The individual providing the program, if they feel comfortable doing so,
    • The Extension Regional Director, or other supervisor if not in an Extension district,
    • The CSU staff member who coordinates Civil Rights, Diversity and Inclusion,
    • The CSU Human Resources Office representative for Equity and Access,
    • United States Department of Agriculture at:

    USDA
    Director, Office of Civil Rights
    Room 326-W, Whitten Building
    14th and Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, DC 20250-9410
    (or call USDA at (202) 720-5964)


For specific information about what to include in in a complaint letter, visit: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_program.html


Extension Guidelines for Informal Resolution of Complaints
CSU encourages, but does not require, clients to try to resolve complaints with the Extension employee providing the program or activities at the local level. However, if that is not possible, or if the client’s complaint is not resolved to their satisfaction, then clients should be provided with the CSU Discrimination Complaint Notification document. Once an allegation has been made that contains any element of discrimination or harassment, the appropriate individuals at CSU will investigate the complaint.

  • USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights – Complaint Resolution


Civil Rights Training

  • New Extension Employees
  • Volunteers and Advisory Board Members
  • Annual Civil Rights Overview for Extension Educators


Civil Rights and Employment Posters

  • “And Justice for All” Posters
  • Department of Labor Posting


Accommodation Resources

  • ADA Check List
  • Accommodations/Special Needs Audiences
  • Sign Language Interpreters
  • Accessible Meetings
  • University Disability Services
  • IT Accessibility Handbook


FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on Diversity, Equity, Equal Opportunity, Accessibility, Non-Discrimination, and Civil Rights
Our Commitment to Diversity
Our Commitment to Inclusive Excellence
Partnerships