Title VI & IX Complaint Process

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. Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on gender in educational programs or activities receiving federal assistance.  Based on Titles VI and IX, NSF may have jurisdiction over a complaint that arises under a program or activity funded by NSF.

Consequently, individuals at institutions that receive NSF funding have the option of pursuing a complaint with their institution's equal employment opportunity (or other appropriate) office, or possibly pursuing their complaint through NSF. Individuals are encouraged to first contact the appropriate office at their institution for advice on their rights and responsibilities under the institution's policies/procedures for handling discrimination complaints. To submit a complaint to NSF, individuals may contact NSF's Office of Equal Opportunity Programs (OEOP). NSF staff who are informed of such complaints should refer them to OEOP.

For more information about this process, please click here for Title VI complaints and click here for Title IX complaints.