Relevant Federal and State Laws and University Policies
Below are some of the relevant federal and state antidiscrimination laws that may apply to programs and activities at UCLA.
Federal Law
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.
- The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits states, including state universities, from denying any person “equal protection of the laws.”
- In Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, 600 U.S. 181 (2023), the Supreme Court ruled that Harvard and the University of North Carolina’s consideration of race in college admissions violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause and Title VI. To survive constitutional scrutiny, race-conscious admissions programs must pass “strict scrutiny” by being narrowly tailored to achieve a compelling government interest. And the Court held that the schools’ interest in pursuing the benefits of a diverse student body was not sufficiently measurable to provide a compelling interest and that their admissions programs were not narrowly tailored to achieve their stated goals.
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.
- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, in any school that receives federal funding from the federal government.
- Section 1981, enacted as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, prohibits consideration of race in contracting, including employment and vendor/supplier contracts.
- The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability.
- Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in health programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to enjoy employment opportunities, purchase goods and services, and participate in state and local government programs.
State Law
- Article I, Section 7 of the California Constitution prohibits denying any person “equal protection of the laws.”
- Article I, Section 31 of the California Constitution (Proposition 209), which was enacted in 1996, prohibits the University of California from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to “any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.”
- The California Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits employment discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, and military and veteran status.
- Section 66270 of the California Education Code prohibits discrimination by a postsecondary educational institution that receives, or benefits from, state financial assistance or enrolls students who receive state student financial aid on the basis of disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and other characteristics.
University Policies
- The UC Antidiscrimination Policy prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in University programs and employment based on protected characteristics.
- The Regents Policy 4404 commits the University of California to fostering an inclusive working and learning environment for the benefit of everyone in the University community and to conducting University admissions, contracting and employment processes in accordance with applicable laws and prohibits the use of race, ethnicity, or gender quotas or caps in any of these processes.
- The UCLA Nondiscrimination Statement prohibits discrimination and harassment in admission, access, and treatment in University programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services.
- The UCLA Faculty Code of Conduct prohibits discrimination, including harassment, against a student on political grounds or for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, ethnic origin, national origin, ancestry, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or family medical history, or federal or state military service.
- The UCLA Student Code of Conduct prohibits individual student behavior under University authority that is discriminatory, which is the adverse or unequal treatment of an individual that unreasonably denies, unreasonably limits, or materially interferes with an individual’s ability to participate in programs, activities, or employment of the University, and/or receive services, benefits, or aid of the University because of that person’s actual or perceived protected categories, which include race, religion, color, citizenship, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, gender transition, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability (including having a history of a disability or being regarded as being disabled), medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), predisposing genetic information (including family medical history), marital status, age (at least 40 years of age in employment context), or veteran or military status. The UCLA Student Conduct Code also prohibits individual student behavior that is harassment, which is unwelcome conduct that is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent so as to interfere with or limit an individual’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or opportunities offered by the University, and creates an environment that is intimidating, hostile, or abusive. Prohibited harassment includes conduct that was based upon actual or perceived protected categories listed in this section.
- The UCLA Student Group Code of Conduct prohibits student group behavior under University authority that is discriminatory, which is the adverse or unequal treatment of an individual that unreasonably denies, unreasonably limits, or materially interferes with an individual’s ability to participate in programs, activities, or employment of the University, and/or receive services, benefits, or aid of the University because of that person’s actual or perceived protected categories, which include race, religion, color, citizenship, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, gender transition, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability (including having a history of a disability or being regarded as being disabled), medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), predisposing genetic information (including family medical history), marital status, age (at least 40 years of age in employment context), or veteran or military status. Any laws or policies that would otherwise permit membership limitations, such as Title IX gender-based exemptions for social fraternities/ sororities and rules outlined in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, are not prevented by the UCLA Student Group Conduct Code. The UCLA Student Group Conduct Code also prohibits student group behavior that is harassment, which is unwelcome conduct that is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent so as to interfere with or limit an individual’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or opportunities offered by the University, and creates an environment that is intimidating, hostile, or abusive. Prohibited harassment includes conduct that was based upon actual or perceived protected categories listed in this section.