Virginia Cooperative Extension's Commitment to Civil Rights

Equal Opportunity

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law. 

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is the civil rights guarantee for persons with disabilities in the United States. It provides protection from discrimination for individuals on the basis of disability.

The ADA extends civil rights protections for people with disabilities to employment in the public and private sectors, transportation, public accommodations, services provided by state and local government, and telecommunication services.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is committed to a policy of non-discrimination in employment and education and complies with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities.

 

Occasionally, we are asked questions about why we collect information related to gender, age, race, and ethnicity on forms and from program participants. Some people wonder if it is required that they disclose such information. Others ask how it will be used.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is committed to diversity and to ensuring equal opportunity for those wishing to benefit from our programs and services. In order to monitor the effectiveness of our civil rights and affirmative action efforts, we collect or invite participants in our programs to voluntarily disclose, their gender, age, race, and ethnicity.

Neither the information gathered or provided, nor the decision not to voluntarily provide it, will be used to determine eligibility for Extension programs and services or the benefits available though participation.

The cumulative demographic information is used solely for the purpose of determining compliance with federal civil rights law. By providing this information, you will assist us in assuring that VCE programs are administered in a nondiscriminatory manner.

If you feel that you have been denied access to services or programs on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminated against as an employee or applicant who inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law please contact one of the following individuals or offices:

Internal

1) The individual providing the program.

2) The Extension District Director:

            Sonya Furgurson, Central District Director

            Charles R. Hawkins Research Center

            230 Slayton Ave

            Danville, VA 24540

            sonyaf@vt.edu

            434-766-6761

 

            Morris White, Northeast District Director

            Virginia Tech Richmond Center

            2810 N. Parham Road, Suite 300

            Richmond, VA 23294

            morrisfw@vt.edu

            804-381-1926

 

            John Thompson, Northwest District Director

            Northwest District Office

            2322 Blue Stone Hills Drive, Suite 140

            Harrisonburg, VA 22801

            Jthomp75@vt.edu

            540-432-6029

 

            Janet Spencer, Southeast District Director

            Tidewater AREC

            6321 Holland Road

            Suffolk, VA 23437

            jaashle2@vt.edu

            757-807-6533

 

            Danny Peek, Southwest District Director

            Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center

            One Partnership Circle, Suite 126

            Abingdon, VA 24210

            dpeek@vt.edu

            276-619-4330

 

3) The VCE Associate Director for Field Operations and Administration:

            Lonnie Johnson, Associate Director

            Virginia Tech Richmond Center

            2810 Parham Road, Suite 300

            Richmond, VA 23294

            lojohns2@vt.edu

            804-527-4251

 

4) The VCE Associate Director for Strategy and Administration:

            Ben Grove, Associate Director

            250 Drillfield Drive

            Hutcheson Hall, Room 114

            Blacksburg, VA 24061

            begrove@vt.edu

            540-231-7640

 

5) The Virginia Tech Assistant Vice President for Equity and Accessibility:

Office for Equity and Accessibility

220 Gilbert Street, Suite 5200

Blacksburg VA 24060

equityandaccess@vt.edu

540-231-2010

 

External

6) USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR):

 

U.S. Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20250, Mail Stop 0115

program.intake@usda.gov

202-720-3808

 

How to file a civil rights complaint with USDA

USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form

 

Please Contact:

Lonnie Johnson, Associate Director for Field Operations and Administration, lojohns2@vt.edu

Ben Grove, Associate Director for Strategy and Administration, begrove@vt.edu

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 USC 2000d.
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 19 USC 794.
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 USC 12101 et. seq.
• Age Discrimination Act of 1975, 42 USC 601 et. seq.
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, et. seq.
• Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, P. L. 100-259, as amended by, Civil Rights
• Restoration Act of 1991, P.L. 102-166.
• USDA DR 4330-02, Nondiscrimination in Programs and Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance From USDA

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