Civil Rights Complaint Procedure

UMaine Cooperative Extension has three complaint procedures available for clientele use. 

Please note: If the issue or incident occurs at an event that is not UMaine sponsored or hosted, the recommendation is to encourage the complainant to submit the UMS EO complaint form (Procedure 2) and the Equal Opportunity Office will determine UMaine Extension involvement.  

  1. Direct Complaint to USDA Regarding Violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act or Title IX of the Education Amendments
  • As an organization that receives federal funding through the USDA, the And Justice For All poster should be displayed anywhere UMaine Extension programs occur. 
  • The poster outlines program participants’ civil rights and that program participants may also file a USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form if they feel their rights have been violated or that sexual harassment has occurred. 
  • Participants may visit the Filing a Complaint as a USDA Customer webpage for complete information on nondiscrimination and sexual harassment policies, for forms in English and Spanish, and for all updated methods of filing a complaint. 
  • If by mail, send to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Center for Civil Rights Enforcement, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410. 
  • If by fax, send to: (202) 690-7442. 
  • If by email, send to: program.intake@usda.gov.
  1. Direct Complaint to the University of Maine Regarding Discrimination in Violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act or Title IX of the Education Amendments

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. To submit a non-emergency complaint through the Office of Equal Opportunity, complete the UMS Equal Opportunity Reporting Form or contact the director with questions. For the director’s contact information, visit the UMaine’s Office of Equal Opportunity website.

  1. Procedure for Extension Staff Receiving Complaint of Discrimination in Violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act or Title IX of the Education Amendments
  • Listen carefully to the complaint (if the complaint can be rectified to the client’s satisfaction, the next steps are not necessary).
  • Ask for the complaint in writing, or assist the client to write the complaint via the UMaine EO Complaint Form.
  • Write down a statement of the circumstances of the complaint with as much detail as possible, including date, place, who was involved, specific circumstances, and the specific way in which the complainant feels his or her rights were violated.
  • Read the statement back to the complainant and ask for the statement to be signed.

Notify the office of the Assistant Director of Employee Engagement, beth.hawkyard@maine.edu, and Civil Rights Coordinator, alisha.r.targonski@maine.edu, immediately and send a copy of the complaint with additional explanatory details. The complaint will be forwarded to UMaine’s Office of Equal Opportunity and to the Civil Rights Division of National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) USDA.