Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.

Civil Rights (Chaves County)

Plan Goal

Civil Rights compliance by New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service is mandated by federal laws and is directly tied to Extension's receipt of federal funding.

Situation Statement

Chaves County Extension Service recognizes the importance of diversity and inclusion in the development and implementation of Extension programs. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that no person on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex or national origin will be excluded from participation in or benefits of any program receiving federal funding. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that no person on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex or national origin will be excluded from selection, trainings, advancement, and other benefits of employment. New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service has the responsibility to provide programming to all residents of New Mexico. These Extension programs must be handled in a manner that treats every customer and employee with fairness, equality, and respect. This applies to all aspects of Extension programs including identifying needs, setting priorities, allocating resources, selecting and assigning staff, conducting programs, and receiving feedback.

Target Audience and Actions

Civil rights compliance work is ongoing. Compliance includes plans of work and program participation data that continues throughout the year to ensure nondiscrimination in program delivery, conducting educational programs for faculty and staff on civil rights topics, the delivery of innovative programs and the corrective action taken when discrimination occurs or noncompliance is documented. The 4-H Agent, along with other faculty/staff in the office will strive to keep all information regarding civil rights in an updated file. This file will be useful in determining compliance during a review. The targeted and intended audience will be any and all persons in Chaves County.

Short-Term Objectives

1. The 4-H Agent will participate in equal opportunity/diversity trainings as offered.
2. The 4-H Agent will make all reasonable efforts to reach underserved audiences by targeting specific needs of certain audiences.
3. The 4-H agent will ensure that all reasonable efforts are made to provide for equal opportunity in clubs.

Medium-Term Objectives

1. The 4-H agent will make sure all advisory boards and committees are diverse with respect to gender, ethnicity, and community representation and are representative of the population in the geographic areas being served.
2. The Chaves County 4-H newsletter and publications will clearly contain a printed non-discriminatory statement expressing civil rights efforts by New Mexico State University.
3. Agents and staff know where to locate procedures for handling program and employment complaints from clientele and office personnel.
7. The USDA “…And Justice for All” poster showing the nondiscrimination policy statement and how to file a civil rights complaint is prominently displayed in office areas visited by the public.
8. All reasonable efforts are carried out to ensure equal access and integration of clubs. Where program delivery methods are by club:
a. In cooperation with Extension staff members, clubs are responsible for their own public notification efforts, i.e., existence of the club, dates, time, and location of organizational meetings.
b. In cooperation with Extension staff members, clubs are responsible for inviting all potential members without regard to race, ethnicity, or gender.
c. Extension staff members have communication with club members, officers, leaders, and volunteers regarding the value of diversity and the expectations for equal opportunity requirements.
d. Equal opportunity requirements will apply to any setting where clubs meet collectively within a county, region, state, or nationally.
e. Club officers and volunteer leaders are provided training and written guidelines on civil rights and equal opportunity requirements. Volunteers are expected to affirm and note an assurance statement of nondiscrimination.
f. The membership of all clubs operating in interracial and non-interracial communities is open to all individuals regardless of race and gender.
g. Geographic boundaries established for program planning and implementation are done in a nondiscriminatory manner.
h. Membership in all clubs is open to both males and females.
i. 4-H recruitment committees are diverse by race and gender.

Long-Term Objectives

1. To adhere to New Mexico State University, state, and federal regulations concerning civil rights.
2. To go through and pass a review in the fifth year of civil rights data collection.

Evaluation Plan

Every five years the Chaves County Extension office is required to conduct a civil rights review. Civil rights program efforts will be reviewed by a team of trained reviewers representing different program areas and areas of expertise. The evaluation will consist of an examination of the completeness of office civil rights compliance files, discussions on successes and problems in carrying out civil rights compliance and reviewing the importance of the task. Counties, as a team, will establish five-year goals for outreach to underserved audiences within their communities. If compliance is not complete, recommendations will be made that will outline corrective actions needed. A timeline for completion of those corrective actions will be established and a follow-up examination of those corrective steps will take place with the civil rights specialist.