Policies & Guidelines to Strengthen Connection & Foster Purpose

UC 4-H Policies

• Nondiscrimination/Affirmative Action Policy
  • It is the policy of the University of California (UC) and the UC Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources not to engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, pregnancy (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), genetic information (including family medical history), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services (as defined by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), as well as state military and naval service. This policy is intended to be consistent with the provisions of applicable state and federal laws and University policies.
• Committment to Diversity
  • Diversity means differences among people with respect to age, class, ethnicity, gender, physical and mental ability, race, sexual orientation, spiritual practice and other human differences. Diversity in the 4-H YDP is a goal and a source of strength for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR). While nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action in personnel practices and program delivery have a basis in legal mandates, valuing diversity is a broader concept evolving from these principles. Valuing diversity is a societal and organizational advantage. ANR will continue its efforts to achieve diversity in its workforce and among its clientele and to foster an environment in which diversity is understood and valued.
• Accessibility of Programs
  • All aspects of every 4-H YDP must be designed to meet the needs of and to be accessible to all participants without discrimination. Reasonable accommodations must be made to allow members and adult volunteers with disabilities to participate. 4-H YDP staff must review and, if appropriate, adjust program teaching methods, subject matter content, and meeting places and times to assure accessibility of programs.
• Membership and Activity
  • Members should include representatives of different ethnicities (minority groups), 4-H members and other youth from various geographic areas of the county and persons who know the county and its communities well.
  • The composition of the group should reflect the diversity of gender, ethnicity and ability/disability within the county. The group should also represent the membership of the 4-H VMO. Approximately one-third of the members should be senior 4-H members.
• Disability Policy
  • All ANR programs, including 4-H YDP, are federally mandated under the Americans with Disabilities Act (1991) to ensure that all programs are accessible to persons with disabilities. ANR policy addresses any individual with a disability who is connected with the 4-H YDP: a youth, a parent, a volunteer or committee member, and a 4-H YDP staff or UCCE county office staff person.
• Private, Non-public Cooperating Groups
  • CE is not allowed to extend "significant educational assistance" to private, non-public groups that discriminate in their membership on the basis of race, color, sex, handicap, religion, age, sexual orientation or national origin. Significant educational assistance is defined as any involvement with a group beyond making an introductory presentation to the group about the 4-H YDP and its opportunities.
• Diversity Training/Orientation for Volunteers
  • 4-H YDP staff must provide the Volunteers and 4-H Nondiscrimination Policy Brochure to adult volunteers as part of the adult volunteer orientation training.
• Sexual Harassment
  • UC ANR is committed to creating and maintaining a community where all persons who participate in ANR programs and activities can work together in an atmosphere free of all forms of harassment, exploitation or intimidation. Every member of the ANR community should be aware that ANR is strongly opposed to sexual harassment, and that such behavior is prohibited both by law and by ANR and University policy. ANR will respond promptly and effectively to reports of sexual harassment, and will take appropriate action to prevent, to correct and if necessary, to discipline behavior that violates this policy.
  • Sexual harassment is not tolerated in the 4 H YDP. It is the responsibility of the 4 H YDP to provide an environment that is free from sexual harassment for all program participants.