Dear UWM Community,
At UWM, we are committed to fostering a campus where every individual feels respected, safe and supported.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act plays a vital role in protecting our values by prohibiting certain forms of discrimination. Understanding how Title VI applies to our university helps ensure that UWM remains a place where belonging is celebrated and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Please take a few minutes to review the information below. Your awareness and engagement are essential to maintaining a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.
What is Title VI?
Title VI is part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and protects people from discrimination based on their race, color or national origin in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance, including at higher education institutions like UWM.
The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) defines discrimination within the context of Title VI as: “Discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin includes discrimination based on a person’s actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ethnicity, or ancestry. This includes discrimination based on the country, world region, or place where a person or his or her ancestors come from; a person’s limited English proficiency or English learner status; or a person’s actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, including membership in a religion that may be perceived to exhibit such characteristics (such as Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh individuals).”
UWM’s commitment to Title VI
UWM has a policy to enforce nondiscrimination on campus. The Discriminatory Conduct Policy addresses discrimination in UWM’s programs and activities and specifically includes ancestry, color, national origin, race and religion, among other protected characteristics.
While UWM investigates and/or reviews complaints and reports for possible action, Title VI does not allow UWM to sanction constitutionally protected speech, even when that speech is considered to be offensive or hateful (so-called hate speech). According to the OCR, “Nothing in Title VI or regulations implementing it requires or authorizes a school to restrict any rights otherwise protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”
How to report Title VI issues
If you experience or witness discrimination covered by Title VI, here are two ways to report it:
- Formal complaint: If you have a complaint of discrimination under Title VI, please contact UWM’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights. The steps involved in a discrimination complaint investigation can be found on this Free Speech, Rights and Limits webpage.
- Hate/Bias Incident Report: If you’re unsure whether an incident rises to the level of a formal complaint but wish to report it, you can file a Hate/Bias Incident report. UWM will review the report to determine if it meets the threshold for a Title VI complaint and/or whether other responsive action is appropriate.
Employees who witness or otherwise learn of any potential Title VI violation at UWM are not legally obligated to report such incidents but are encouraged to report them so the university can determine whether an investigation or other responsive action is necessary.
For more information about Title VI and our policies, or if you need to file a report, please reach out to UWM’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights.
Each of us plays a role in upholding the values that make UWM a vibrant and respectful community. Together, we can continue building a campus culture rooted in equity, understanding and mutual respect — one in which we value open dialogue on difficult topics.
Best,
Dr. Thomas Gibson
Chancellor