Civil rights

As divisions of University of Idaho that receive federal funding, UI Extension and the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station (IAES) are committed to USDA civil rights nondiscrimination policies and procedures, while maintaining state laws. We are committed to serving all Idaho residents with focus on expanding access to educational programs and research across all communities.

Key elements of civil rights compliance

Among other laws, we are bound by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex and disability.

This means we

Don’t discriminate
May not provide services to agencies and organizations that engage in discrimination
Inform the public of these policies
Plan and implement plans to meet compliance obligations
Document and report our efforts to comply with civil rights standards
Evaluate our efforts and adjust to improve outreach and compliance

View or download the latest information about civil rights policies and procedures (pdf).

Know your rights

Evaluating our efforts

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), a key federal partner, requires we collect and analyze demographic information from participants to ensure our programs include everyone, are accessible to everyone and are non-discriminatory.

Your participation in this demographic-data collection is voluntary, and your information is kept confidential and anonymous. The data is used solely to ensure that we are meeting federal civil rights standards and to improve our outreach and services.

This data helps us:

Identify gaps in services — The data allows us to identify any barriers that might prevent specific communities from participating in our programs. This helps us make necessary improvements, ensuring our services are inclusive and accessible to all.
Monitor civil rights compliance — Demographic data helps us ensure we adhere to these civil rights laws.
Improve program outreach and effectiveness — Understanding the demographics of those we serve helps us tailor our programs to the unique needs of different communities, making our outreach more effective and impactful.

What data we collect

To better understand the communities of our participants, we may collect information such as:

Race and ethnicity
Gender
Age
Language proficiency

Civil rights complaints

Because we are committed to compliance with applicable federal, state and local rules and regulations pertaining to the openness of our programs, it is important we promptly address any concerns about discrimination or harassment.

If you have any concerns or believe you have experienced discrimination while interacting with University of Idaho in any capacity, please contact us directly:

Discrimination or harassment complaints

Refer complaints related to discrimination or harassment to the Office of Civil Rights and Investigations (OCRI).

Likewise, you may contact the USDA directly via information on the USDA program discrimination complaint form (pdf) and/or “And Justice for All Poster.”

Programming complaints

We encourage, but do not require, individuals to try to resolve complaints (not related to discrimination or harassment) with the Extension or IAES employee providing the program or service at the local level. However, if that is not possible, or if the individual's complaint is not resolved to their satisfaction, then complaints of this nature should be taken to the district director within each of our four districts. Ask the local supervisor for district contacts.

Requesting accommodations

Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodations. Please complete the form below to assist in evaluating the reasonable accommodation request at least two weeks prior to the event. Accommodation applications cannot be approved without supporting documentation.

Submit an electronic general accommodation form (pdf) or 4-H/youth-specific form (pdf) by sending the application and documentation to:

Center for Disability Access and Resources
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 4257
Moscow, ID 83844-4257

Email: cdar@uidaho.edu
Phone: 208-885-6307
Fax: 208-885-9404

“And Justice for All” poster

In order for participants in Extension and IAES activities to access information about their rights, we display an "And Justice for All" poster in all University of Idaho Extension and IAES locations where Extension and research faculty and staff are located, as well as during program activities, per USDA civil rights policy.

Contact Aubrey Stribling Hudgins (astribling@uidaho.edu) for more information.