Anti-Discrimination and Civil Rights

The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origen, national origen, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. 

Reasonable accommodation of disability may be available with prior notice. Program information may be made available in languages other than English.

Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and other related matter should be directed to:

-- Equal Opportunity Office, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment,
University of Kentucky, Room S-105, Agriculture Science Building North, Lexington, Kentucky 40546,

-- UK Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity, 13 Main Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0032, or

-- US Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410.

Additional Resources regarding anti-discrimination and civil rights compliance in Research:

USDA Departmental Regulation 4330-002:

Nondiscrimination in Programs and Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance From USDA

USDA NIFA Title IX Fact Sheet

Because the Agricultural Experiment Station is supported in part by financial assistance from the Federal Government, we are required to let you know that:

(1)        We may not discriminate against you on the basis of religion, a religious belief, a refusal to hold a religious belief, or a refusal to attend or participate in a religious practice;

(2)        We may not require you to attend or participate in any explicitly religious activities (including activities that involve overt religious content such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization) that are offered by our organization, and any participation by you in such activities must be purely voluntary;

(3)        We must separate in time or location any privately funded explicitly religious activities (including activities that involve overt religious content such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization) from activities supported with direct Federal financial assistance; and

(4)        You may report violations of these protections, including any denials of services or benefits by an organization, by contacting or filing a written complaint with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Center for Civil Rights Enforcement, Program Complaint Division by mail, fax, or e-mail at:

Mail:                                      

United States Department of Agriculture
Director, Center for Civil Rights Enforcement
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-9410

Fax: (202) 690-7442   

Email: program.intake@usda.gov

University of Kentucky Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity - https://ieeo.uky.edu/

University of Kentucky Title IX Compliance page 

UK Title IX Coordinator - Sarah Mudd, Director of Investigations

18th Floor, Patterson Office Tower
 Lexington, KY 40506-0027
 (859) 257-8927

UK Regulations related to discrimination and harassment:

https://regs.uky.edu/administrative-regulation/ar-61

https://regs.uky.edu/administrative-regulation/ar-62

"And Justice for All" poster link

How to file a program discrimination complaint with the USDA:

https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint

Federal Civil Rights Laws, Regulations, Executive Orders and Related Other Guidance:

https://www.nifa.usda.gov/equal-opportunity-civil-rights/civil-rights-policies

UK Limited English Proficiency Plan:

The Land-Grant programs of the M-G CAFE must ensure that persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) have meaningful access to programs and activities funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.  Delivery of applied research results to broad audiences that may include persons with LEP is most often performed through programming integrated with Cooperative Extension.  Research programming involving persons with LEP but not conducted with Extension should follow the same general LEP steps and can utilize the resources found below.

UK Limited English Proficiency Plan (LEP):

Guidance on working with interpreters

Guidance on working with translators