Statements similar to those below were included in a grant proposal that requested a "certification" that the University was committed to civil rights for all people, and to developing diversity. Your proposal may ask for a statement like this. If so, feel free to use this language as a starting place for writing your statement.

Western Kentucky University complies with the following federal regulations through its Office of General Counsel and Office of Sponsored Programs, the University's chief compliance offices.

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin;
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and Executive Order 11246, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin;
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs;
• The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability;
• The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age; and
• All other Federal statutes dealing with discrimination such as the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, the Drug Abuse Treatment Act of 1972, the Conference of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act of 1970, and Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

There are numerous other certifications and assurances with which the University complies, and we will be pleased to present these to the sponsor upon request.

In assuring compliance that the interest of minorities, women, people with disabilities, and the aged have been comprehended in this proposal, the following steps were taken.

• The proposal was written after considering the guidance of the University s Equal Opportunity Office and Human Resources Office concerning these groups.
• Recommendations were made by discussing needs from clients of the Small Business Development Office which is organized to report to the Institute for Economic Development and Public Service.

Moreover, Western Kentucky University has written this proposal in keeping with institutional polices and the mission statement that focuses on the needs of minorities, women, people with disabilities, and the aged.

• Western Kentucky University provides a broad spectrum of instruction, scholarly activity, and professional service within an academic climate which encourages intellectual excellence. Western Kentucky University affords educational opportunities in a climate that recognizes human diversity especially for women, people with disabilities, and the aged. Along these lines the mission statement not only includes serving diverse academic and human resources needs but the University is committed to increasing access for both traditional and nontraditional students, and to improving education at all levels. Western Kentucky University recognizes that its mission continues to evolve in response to regional, national, and global changes.
• Western Kentucky University is committed to excellence in carrying out its fundamental mission of providing a wide range of educational service. In fulfilling its mission, Western Kentucky University actively promotes a sense of community among teacher-scholars, students, staff, and administrators based upon a spirit of cooperation, intellectual challenge, social support, and the traditional Western trademarks of helpfulness and friendliness. The University cultivates in students such values as honesty, integrity, generosity of spirit and intellect, respect for human diversity and individuals, as well as intellectual curiosity, cultural and aesthetic awareness, and creativity and imagination. It acknowledges the benefits that flow from the free and open discussion of all ideas within the academic setting, and encourages respect for others and tolerance for opposing points of view.