End statements

Most often, when you want to publicize Extension programs or club meetings via flyers, newsletters, news releases, etc. you will do so with the assistance of the faculty and staff in your Extension office. 

However, if you create documents on your own that are used with the public for your Extension unit, association, or club, you need to know there are civil rights responsibilities that apply to these documents. 

Public documents must include Non-Discrimination statements, since a component of our Civil Rights compliance requirements is to notify the public that Extension is open to all, including individuals with disabilities. Public documents include publications, announcements, newsletters, news releases, letterhead documents, etc. This requirement to use the non-discrimination statements applies to all Extension faculty, staff, and volunteers.

There are two distinct civil rights non-discrimination statements that must be present on public documents. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The first is called the Equal Employment Opportunity or EEO statement. 

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and local governments, and is an equal opportunity employer. For the full non-discrimination statement, please visit ext.vt.edu/accessibility.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

The second non-discrimination statement is the Accommodation statement. It must be used in all methods of promotion, including written, verbal and electronic for workshops, events, seminars, classes, organizational meetings, etc. 

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact __________ (name, office) at (phone number/TDD*) during business hours of _____ a.m. and _____ p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event. *TDD number is (800) 828-1120.

Translation of Non-discrimination Statements

If you require translation of non-discrimination statements, please email Gloria Hartley, Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator at ghartley@vt.edu. 

Questions?

You should always consult with your Extension educator, program associate, assistant or administrative support staff person about the use of these statements when developing Extension documents that are to be distributed to the public.