The University of Maine College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture is committed to ensuring the civil rights of its employees, students, and clients and ensuring that its teaching, research, and outreach programs are open and accessible to all. Every employee, student, and client must be treated fairly and equitably with dignity and respect. This policy applies to all employees, students, and clients    regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation—including transgender status or gender expression—religion, age, disability, political beliefs, veterans status,  citizenship, and marital or family status.

Civil Rights/Equal Employment Opportunity Guidelines

Civil Rights/Equal Employment Opportunity Guidelines The College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture’s Civil Rights/Equal Opportunity Policy/Guidelines are based on five federal laws:

  1. Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VI
  2. Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972
  3. Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504
  4. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1992
  5. Age Discrimination Act of 1975

Complaint Procedures The College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, & Agriculture has two complaint procedures options available. The first is listed on the And Justice For All poster. This involves direct written communication with the secretary of agriculture. The second procedure is part of the official UMaine non-discrimination statement, and involves directing questions and complaints to the director of equal opportunity and diversity at the university.

All Reasonable Effort College employees must ensure that all reasonable effort is made to reach out to involve minorities and people with disabilities in college education and research programs and to properly record the effort. In addition to providing public notification, the following activities are regarded as a minimum effort:

  • All new University of Maine employees must be oriented to UMaine’s Civil Rights/Equal Employment Opportunity (CR/EEO) and Americans with Disability Act (ADA) responsibilities.
  • Faculty and unit annual reports should highlight special efforts that will be planned for the purpose of recruiting minority and handicapped employees and undergraduate and graduate students.
  • News releases for college educational programs that are open to the public should state that they are open to the public regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or citizenship status, age, disability or veterans status, and that the college provides, upon request, reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals.
  • The And Justice For All poster should be posted prominently in all unit offices and major function rooms.

Public Notification Requirements

The college’s Public Notification Plan is the process by which the public is advised of college programs, the requirements for non-discrimination, and the availability of reasonable accommodations for those needing them. The elements of the plan are as follows:

  • Display of the And Justice For All poster
  • Use of the university’s non-discrimination statement where appropriate in publications, program announcements, etc.
  • Informing organizations and groups with which the college cooperates of our non-discrimination provisions
  • Use of non-sexist language and non-discriminatory language, photos, and graphics to convey the message of equal opportunity in all programming
  • Provision of materials in alternative means of communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) upon request
  • Use of an ADA accommodation statement where appropriate

The university’s non-discrimination notices and ADA accomodation statement are available on the Office of Equal Opportunity’s website.