As a recipient of federal financial assistance, NC State University is required to comply with federal civil rights laws which prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in all extension and research programs and activities. In addition, our programs are prohibited from retaliating against individuals who engage in protected activities. Explore Federal Laws, Regulations & Guidance that apply to NC State Research & Extension programs.

NC State University strives to maintain a campus environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation and to provide a process for reporting and resolving allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Explore NC State Policies, Regulations & Guidance.

N.C. Cooperative Extension is dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs that comply with all civil rights requirements. Discrimination is prohibited across the Extension system. Explore Extension Policies, Regulations & Guidance.

A nondiscrimination statement is required on to appear on all print and electronic documents, websites, program registration forms, and program marketing materials that are made available to the public, participants, students, applicants, volunteers or employees to inform them that as an institution we do not discriminate.

To notify participants in virtual environments of our nondiscrimination policy, the nondiscrimination statement should be presented during virtual presentations. A sample nondiscrimination slide is available to use during virtual presentations.

An accommodation statement is required to appear on all marketing and event announcements and program registration forms. This statement informs participants (employees, students, and the public) of the process to obtain a reasonable accommodation. All program announcement and marketing materials developed by Specialists for county Extension use must include an editable accommodation statement.

Although not a civil rights statement, the public cost statement is required by NC General Statute to be included when 200+ copies are printed for public distribution.

N.C. Cooperative Extension and its employees may not participate in or provide support to any organizations or efforts that would result in a program that excludes, restricts, or denies any person from participation because of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability.

USDA regulations issued pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Age Discrimination Act of 1975 stipulate that Extension cannot provide significant assistance to organizations that exclude any person from participation because of race, color or national origin, sex, disability, or age.

Extension employees involved in collaborative efforts are responsible for assuring that an organization or group provides services in a nondiscriminatory manner before rendering Extension assistance. Employees should provide a copy of the Notice of Nondiscrimination to each partner organization before joint programs are provided. Once every four years subsequent Notices of Nondiscrimination should be provided to partner organizations with ongoing collaborative program efforts. Log the distribution of Notices of Nondiscrimination in the XCR system. 

NC State Complaint Procedures NC State prohibits discrimination and harassment based upon the following, which is considered by NC State to be a protected status: race, color, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy or related conditions), age, disability, genetic information,  religion, or veteran status in University programs and activities. NC State also prohibits retaliation based upon a person’s engagement in a protected activity. Individuals participating in Extension programs may file a discrimination complaint with NC State University.

USDA Participant Complaint Procedures Discrimination is prohibited on the bases of race, color, sex, age, disability, national origin, and reprisal for prior civil rights activity in programs that receive federal financial assistance from the USDA. Individuals participating in Extension programs may file a discrimination complaint on one of the aforementioned bases with the USDA.

Routine monitoring of compliance with civil rights law and regulations helps to ensure access for program recipients. The Extension Civil Rights Reporting System (XCR) is a repository to document the civil rights activities that support our compliance efforts. Within the XCR application you may log language access and accommodation requests, distribution of notices of nondiscrimination, training documentation, annual county internal review checklists, and district internal review checklists.

Civil rights training is an integral part of Extension's in-service continuing education. Training provides Extension employees and volunteers with an understanding of federal laws, regulations, instructions, policies and other guidance. For more information visit our Training Resources page.

NC State Extension is committed to providing individuals with disabilities the opportunity for full participation in its programs, services, and activities through its compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.

NC State Extension recognizes that individuals with disabilities may need accommodations or modifications to have equal opportunities to participate in or benefit from NC State Extension’s programs, services and activities. It is NC State Extension’s policy that no otherwise qualified individual with a disability will be denied access to or participation in any program, service, or activity offered. NC State Extension will administer programs, services, and activities in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities have a right to request accommodations. Individuals will receive accommodations appropriate to their needs in order to fully participate in or benefit from NC State Extension’s services and activities in a non-discriminatory, integrated setting.

For more information visit our Accessibility Resources page.

Individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English may be entitled free language assistance while receiving Extension services or benefits.  For more information visit our Multilingual Services page.

As a recipient of federal financial assistance, Extension is required to maintain evidence that programs and services are provided in a nondiscriminatory manner. All Extension programs must collect and securely maintain data on the race, ethnicity and sex of the program's participants.

In the majority of cases this data is collected by County Extension Agents and data is stored in the ERS system. However, Extension Specialists and Associates conducting programs not associated with an agent are responsible for collecting and maintaining their program data for 3 years.

If the program registration is conducted through Extension Eventbrite standard demographic questions designed to comply with the federal requirements are automatically collected. Sample Demographic Data Collection Cards are available to used with in-person data collection. Sample Spanish Versions of the Demographic Data Collection Cards are also available.

• Standards for Collecting Data on Race and Ethnicity (SPD 15)

Posters must be displayed to inform employees and the public of their legal rights, protections, and how to file complaints.

• “And Justice for All” Posters
• NC State Title IX Posters
• Department of Labor Postings

NC State Office of Equal Opportunity facilitates efforts to ensure equal opportunity by providing guidance, programming, and outreach. The Office of Equal Opportunity oversees the complaint reporting and investigation process to ensure that students, faculty, staff and visitors are safe and not subject to further discrimination, harassment or retaliation. Sheri Schwab,  Vice Provost for Institutional Equity & Diversity and NC State Title IX Officer   slschwab@ncsu.edu

CALS Human Resources coordinates with the Office of Equal Opportunity on the investigation of discrimination complaints.  Rebecca Zuvich, CALS Assistant Dean for Personnel  rebecca_zuvich@ncsu.edu

CALS Evaluation & Accountability Office facilitates efforts to ensure adherence to accountability and compliance standards and provides guidance, resources, and professional development to support research and extension programs and services.  Meredith Weinstein, Evaluation & Accountability Coordinator and CALS Title VI Compliance Officer meredith_weinstein@ncsu.edu