Vision: The Division of Extension’s is committed to make good on the promise of our educational research  and outreach mission by dedicating special attention to the ways in which our programs and services are – and are not – responsive to the needs and goals of Wisconsin communities in a 21st century society. As a part of the Division of Extension, OAIC is committed to be pro-active, strategic, coordinated, and adaptive to the needs of an increasingly diverse state. Our unit is driven by the pursuit of excellence in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA).

Mission: The office will help guide and lead an organizational strategy for Extension, with a focus on three core areas:

Core focus areas of our unit:  Access, Inclusion, and Compliance:

“Access” refers to our public service mission and the programs and services we provide. It is outward-facing, intentional, and involves varied approaches to serve persons from historically under-represented and marginalized communities. OAIC staff works directly with educators and specialist related to programing goals and outcomes.

“Inclusion” refers to Extension’s inward-facing culture as a workplace, including the spaces where our work is carried out. Inclusive excellence aims to foster an organizational ethos of respect, collaboration, and accountability among our colleagues, community stakeholders, and members of the public. OAIC provides training for colleagues, sponsors professional learning opportunities, and provides sponsorship for Employee Resource Groups and task forces.

“Compliance” refers to the alignment of organizational structures, practices, and policies that are anchored by, but extend beyond, the established minimum legal standards for providing equitable access to programs and services in accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other sources of federal law and policy. OAIC provides divisional oversight for meeting our compliance responsibilities for programs and services.

IDEA innovation and excellence: