The Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) works to ensure that the University of Arizona is a place where all members of our community can learn, work, and thrive free from discrimination and harassment. The university resolutely opposes all forms of prohibited discrimination, including but not limited to discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin (including shared ancestry and ethnic characteristics), in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq. 

What Title VI Protects Against

Title VI prohibits discrimination or harassment 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 their ancestors come from;
• a person’s actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, including membership in a religion that may be perceived to exhibit such characteristics; and
• a person’s limited English proficiency or English learner status. 

Title VI also prohibits discrimination involving:

• racial, ethnic, or ancestral epithets, or slurs;
• appearance, dress, or speech linked to ethnicity or ancestry (e.g., skin color, facial features, attire/ style of dress, accent, name, language)
• potentially inherited traits; or
• stereotypes about people who share certain ancestral or ethnic characteristics.

Reports of Title VI discrimination may be made:

• Online: Submit a report to OIE
• Email: equity@arizona.edu
• Phone: (520) 621-9449

Upon receiving a report, OIE will review the report to determine if the allegations fall within the scope of Title VI. OIE will send outreach to the complainant (if identified). The complainant will be invited to an intake meeting to share more details about the reported conduct and learn more about resources and supportive measures and learn about the Title VI process and option.

OIE will conduct a hostile environment analysis for each report of potential Title VI discrimination, regardless of whether there is an identified complainant or whether the complainant wishes to pursue a formal complaint. 

If a report does not fall within the scope of OIE, it may be referred to other university offices. 

The university offers resources to students and employees impacted by discrimination, harassment, or bias-related incidents. Support and referrals are offered as appropriate and described in OIE's  Support and Resources Brochure. 

If a potential incident of discrimination is also an emergency, call 911. Additional university safety-related resources include:

• University of Arizona Police Department (UAPD); phone: 520-621-8273
• Threat Assessment Management Team (TAMT)

The university values free speech and academic freedom, even when ideas or perspectives may be unwelcome or offensive. The ideas and perspectives of members of the university community will often and quite naturally conflict, and it is not the proper role of the university to attempt to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive. Free speech and academic freedom are foundational to our university’s missions of discovery and exploration. However, the manner in which those freedoms are expressed is not unlimited, and expressive conduct must still comply with applicable laws and university policies. Additional information about these principles can be found here. 

For more information on Title VI, please visit: U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Education and Title VI.