FOREST SERVICE MANUAL Washington, D.C. TITLE 1700 - CIVIL RIGHTS Amendment No. 1700-2000-11 Effective June 15, 2000 POSTING NOTICE. Amendments are numbered consecutively by Title and calendar year. Post by document name. Remove entire document and replace with this amendment. Retain this transmittal as the first page of this document. The last amendment to this Title was Amendment 1700-2000-10 to FSM 1780 Contents. This amendment supersedes Amendment 1700-90-1 to FSM 1780. Superseded New Document Name (Number of Pages) 1780 3 10 Digest: Recodes direction and makes minor editorial and formatting changes throughout the chapter. Substantive revisions are as follows: 1780.3 - Revises policy for the Forest Service role in direct programs. 1780.41 - Clarifies responsibilities in direct programs for the Director, Civil Rights Staff, Washington Office, Forest Service line officers, and all employees. 1783 - Adds direction on the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. 1784 - Adds direction on the American Indian Education Initiative. MIKE DOMBECK Chief FSM 1700 - CIVIL RIGHTS WO AMENDMENT 1700-2000-11 EFFECTIVE 06/15/2000 CHAPTER 1780 - DIRECT PROGRAMS For further direction on civil rights requirements for direct programs (that is, programs and services administered directly by the Forest Service), see FSH 1709.11, chapter 80. For related direction on civil rights impact analysis and documentation, see FSM 1730 and FSH 1709.11, chapter 30. For related direction on access for persons with disabilities, see FSH 1709.11, chapter 10, and FSM 1710. 1780.1 - Authority. (FSM 1701; FSH 1709.11, sec. 01). 1780.2 - Objective. (FSM 1702). To ensure that no person is denied the benefits of any program, service, or activity administered directly by the Forest Service, because of race, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status, in accordance with laws regulations, and Departmental Regulation (DR) 4300-6 (FSM 1701; FSH 1709.11, sec. 01), and to achieve parity of participation by all groups in all Forest Service programs, services, and activities. 1780.3 - Policy. Provide for ongoing review of regulations, directives, procedures, and guidelines related to direct programs to ensure that civil rights requirements are included and that civil rights impacts are documented and analyzed as appropriate (FSM 1730; FSH 1709.11, ch. 30). 1780.4 - Responsibility. 1780.41 - Washington Office. 1780.41a - Director, Civil Rights Staff, Washington Office. The Director, Civil Rights Staff, Washington Office is responsible for developing and monitoring the implementation of policies and procedures necessary to meet civil rights requirements for direct agency programs and for providing the Chief, Deputy Chiefs, Regional Foresters, and Station, Area, and Institute Directors with advice on compliance requirements for direct agency programs. 1780.41b - Deputy Chiefs. The Deputy Chiefs have overall responsibility for ensuring that direct programs in their Deputy Areas meet civil rights requirements. 1780.42 - Regional Foresters, Station Directors, Area Director, and Institute Director. Regional Foresters, Station Directors, the Area Director, and the Institute Director have the responsibility to ensure the civil rights compliance of direct programs within their designated areas of responsibility. They are responsible for providing the organization and resources necessary to accomplish this responsibility and for monitoring these programs for compliance. 1780.43 - All Employees. In making direct programs available to individuals or to the public in general, Forest Service employees are responsible for ensuring compliance to civil rights standards and for ensuring that services are provided on an equal opportunity basis. 1781 - PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION. For detailed direction on program administration see FSH 1709.11, chapter 80. 1782 - HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. This program is designed to eliminate barriers and increase the participation by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in Forest Service programs. This program also heightens agency employees' awareness and helps establish beneficial partnerships and agreements between HBCUs and the Forest Service. 1782.01 - Authority. Executive Orders (E.O.) 12232 and 12876 and Departmental Regulation 1390-1 (FSH 1709.11, sec. 01) set requirements regarding Historically Black Colleges and Universities. 1782.02 - Objectives. 1. To ensure participation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Forest Service programs. 2. To strengthen the capacity of Historically Black Colleges and Universities to provide quality education and to overcome the effects of past discriminatory treatment. 1782.03 - Policy. 1. Provide appropriate program funding and technical assistance to improve the administrative and educational infrastructure of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. 2. Ensure that funding available for programs at higher education institutions is allocated so that Historically Black Colleges and Universities receive a share that meets civil rights goals and legal requirements. 3. Monitor and review policies and procedures to increase the participation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in agency programs, eliminate unnecessary procedures and policies that act as barriers to the participation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in agency programs, and prepare annual reports on plans and accomplishments. 1782.04 - Responsibility. 1782.04a - Director, Civil Rights Staff, Washington Office. 1. The Director, Civil Rights Staff, Washington Office is responsible for the administration and implementation of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) program in the Washington Office and Service-wide. 2. The Director, Civil Rights Staff, Washington Office is designated to provide leadership and advice to the Chief and Forest Service managers on programs and activities affecting HBCUs, including the responsibility to: a. Coordinate the development of Forest Service strategies for strengthening the capacities of HBCUs, particularly 1890 and 1994 Land Grant Institutions, as related to Forest Service programs and research; b. Facilitate the establishment, as appropriate, of USDA initiatives for increased participation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and 1890 and 1994 Land Grant Institutions in Forest Service research and other programs; c. Monitor and review Forest Service program operations to ensure that HBCUs and 1890 and 1994 Land Grant Institutions have equal participation in grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements; d. Review Forest Service proposed program regulations and policies to identify procedures and practices that may result in reduced participation by HBCUs and/or limit the benefits received by or from HBCUs; e. Serve as the Forest Service national liaison for continuing consultation with representatives at HBCUs and national organizations concerned with issues regarding the HBCUs; f. Prepare Forest Service reports required by USDA and other Federal agencies in accordance with E.O. 12232 and 12876 and other Federal laws and regulations; and g. Monitor the implementation of this policy within the Forest Service. 1782.04b - Regional Foresters, Stations Directors, Area Director, and Institute Director. Regional Foresters, Station Directors, the Area Director, and the Institute Director are responsible for establishing and ensuring effective program implementation of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities program in their respective units. 1782.05 - Definitions. 1890 Land Grant Institutions. Institutions established in the Land Grant Higher Education System created by two Federal laws, the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890. The first Morrill Act (1862) provided for establishment of a land grant institution in each southern State. The second Morrill Act (1890) specifically created the Black Land Grant Institutions. Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Those college and universities designated by USDA Departmental Regulation 1390-1 (FSM 1782.1). 1782.1- Listing of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Exhibit 01 lists the Historically Black Colleges and Universities as included in DR 1390-1. Asterisks indicate Black Land Grant Institutions established by the Second Morrill Act (1890), which are referred to as the 1890 Land Grant Institutions. 1782.1 - Exhibit 01 List of Historically Black Colleges and Universities ALABAMA *Alabama A&M University Miles College Alabama State University Oakwood College Bishop State Community College Selma University Concordia College Stillman College Fredd State Technical College Talladega College J.F. Drake Technical College Trenholm St. Technical College Lawson State Community College *Tuskegee University ARKANSAS Arkansas Baptist College Shorter College Philander Smith College University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff DELAWARE *Delaware State University DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA *University of the District Howard University of Columbia FLORIDA Bethune-Cookman College *Florida A&M University Edward Waters College Florida Memorial College GEORGIA Albany State College Morris Brown College Clark Atlanta University Paine College *Fort Valley State University Savannah State College Interdenominational Theological Spelman College Center Morehouse School of Medicine Morehouse College KENTUCKY *Kentucky State University LOUISIANA Dillard University Southern University at New Orleans Grambling State University Xavier University Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge Southern University at Shreveport/Bossier City MARYLAND Bowie State College Morgan State University *University of Maryland Coppin State College Eastern Shore MICHIGAN Lewis College of Business MISSISSIPPI *Alcorn State University Mississippi Valley State University Coahoma Community College Rust College Jackson State University Tougaloo College Mary Holmes College MISSOURI Harris-Stowe State College *Lincoln University NORTH CAROLINA Barber-Scotia College *North Carolina A&T State University Bennett College North Carolina Central University Elizabeth City State University St. Augustine's College Fayetteville State University Shaw University Johnson C. Smith University Winston-Salem State University Livingstone College OHIO Central State University Wilberforce University OKLAHOMA *Langston University PENNSYLVANIA Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Lincoln University SOUTH CAROLINA Allen University Denmark Technical School Benedict College Morris College Claflin College *South Carolina State University Clinton Junior College Voorhees College Denmark Technical College TENNESSEE Fisk University LeMoyne-Owen College Knoxville College Meharry Medical College Lane College *Tennessee State University TEXAS Huston-Tillotson College Southwestern Christian College Jarvis Christian College Texas College Paul Quinn College Texas Southern University *Prairie View A&M University Wiley College St. Phillip's College VIRGINIA Hampton University *Virginia State University Norfolk State University Virginia Union University Saint Paul's College WEST VIRGINIA Bluefield State College West Virginia State University U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS College of the Virgin Islands _____________ *Denotes the 1890 Land Grant Institutions. _______________________________________________________________________ 1782.2 - Program Planning. The Director, Civil Rights Staff, Washington Office establishes plans for each fiscal year with measurable objectives to increase the ability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities to participate in Forest Service programs (FSM 1751). 1783 - HISPANIC ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) initiative focuses on partnerships and outreach initiatives for Hispanic Americans. The Forest Service participates through a memorandum of understanding between the Forest Service and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. The partnerships and outreach efforts provide the Forest Service vehicles for achieving a diverse work force and providing quality services to the Hispanic public. Current activities include: Employment of students from HACU/Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) to serve in internships with various Forest Service and other USDA agencies, providing them exposure and awareness of Government career opportunities; public awareness and educational programs; resource program planning; Hispanic Student Success Program; and related research. 1784 - AMERICAN INDIAN EDUCATION INITIATIVE. The American Indian Education Initiative is a program designed to work with 31 tribal colleges that comprise the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC). Most of these two-year, tribally owned colleges are located on Indian reservations. There are few of these colleges and they receive very little Government funding. The Forest Service provides funds to half of these colleges for building the capacity of their natural resource programs. The agency also assists with curriculum building, research, technology transfer, and academic workshops for tribal instructors. The Forest Service provides employment opportunities for students who may be hired as temporaries, student career experience program participants, and provisional employees with the potential for permanent employment upon graduation. The purpose of this initiative is to develop trusting relationships between the Forest Service and tribes, provide funding for building college natural resource programs, and recruit tribal members into Federal service. 1785 - TRIBAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM. (FSM 1563). 1786 - HOUSING. This section covers the application of provisions of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 as they apply to housing for Forest Service employees. 1786.01 - Authority. (FSM 1701; FSH 1709.11, sec .01). 1786.02 - Objective. To ensure equal housing opportunity for all individuals eligible for Forest Service-operated housing. 1786.03 - Policy. It is the policy of the Forest Service to prohibit discrimination in the allocation of employee housing and to consider the impact upon the community and upon employee housing of all proposed office and other facility site locations. 1786.04 - Responsibility. 1786.04a - Director, Civil Rights Staff, Washington Office. The Washington Office, Director, Civil Rights Staff is responsible for Service-wide coordination of equal housing opportunity programs and policies. 1786.04b - Line Officers. Forest Service line officers are required to provide the leadership and resources necessary to ensure that the objectives of the equal housing opportunity program are met. See FSH 1709.11, chapter 80 for further direction on staff resources and requirements. 1787 - COMPLAINTS OF DISCRIMINATION. The Forest Service shall establish and maintain a complaint system by which individuals who feel they are discriminated against in direct programs can file a complaint and receive prompt, fair, and impartial consideration of their complaint. The complaint system emphasizes informal resolution in reaching corrective action. See Departmental Regulation (DR) 4330-3 for specific USDA requirements on the complaint system and FSH 1709.11, chapter 80 for further direction on the Forest Service process for implementing requirements of that Departmental Regulation.