Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

To achieve Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE)’s mission of engagement with and service to New Jersey’s extraordinarily diverse communities, it is imperative that RCE conducts its work in a manner that recognizes the diversity of its many parts, welcomes full participation by all who seek to benefit from RCE resources and opportunities, and enables each individual to reach their full potential.

Increasing diversity and inclusion in RCE will lead to more innovative solutions to community needs in an increasingly complex world, better reflect the changing demographic trends in communities that RCE serves, and demonstrate RCE’s unequivocal commitment to more robust engagement with traditionally underrepresented populations and broader relationships with community stakeholders.

For these reasons, Rutgers Cooperative Extension is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in its mission and vision, workforce, programs, audiences, and in its relationships with other people, groups, and organizations. RCE strives to acknowledge the value of diversity and inclusivity by ensuring faculty and staff are full and influential members, by providing educational opportunities for current and potential audiences, diversifying faculty, staff, volunteers, and developing innovative programs that meet the needs of the members of our communities.