The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is often hailed as the most significant piece of Civil Rights legislation since the Reconstruction period following the Civil War. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its amendments are responsible for prohibiting unequal application of voter registration requirements, ending racial segregation for public schools, expanding the Civil Rights Commission, preventing discrimination in federally assisted programs, such as higher education, and employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
Learn more about the Civil Rights Act and what it does
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (Students)
No Person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces, among other statutes, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as it pertains to programs and activities funded by the Department of Education. Title VI protects people from discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance.
Scope of Title VI
In addition to WVU, agencies and institutions that receive Department of Education funds covered by Title VI include all state boards of education and their subrecipients in all 50 states, vocational rehabilitation agencies, 17,000 local education systems, 4,700 colleges and universities, 10,000 proprietary institutions, libraries, museums and other such institutions that receive funds from the Department of Education.
Programs and activities that receive ED funds must operate in a non-discriminatory manner. These may include, but are not limited to: admissions, recruitment, financial aid, academic programs, student treatment and services, counseling and guidance, discipline, classroom assignment, grading, vocational education, recreation, physical education, athletics, housing and employment, if it affects those who are intended to benefit from the Federal funds. Also, a recipient may not retaliate against any person because he or she opposed an unlawful educational practice or policy, or made charges, testified or participated in any complaint action under Title VI. For a recipient to retaliate in any way is considered a violation of Title VI.
Highlighted text from the Office of Civil Rights website.
Questions? Want to know more?
Title VI helps to foster an inclusive, safe and respectful University environment. In addition to knowing who WVU’s Director of Equity Assurance is (James Goins Jr), you should also be knowledgeable of why Title VI is important to you, and our University community, what your rights are, who is confidential and who isn’t. You can request a training or meet with a knowledgeable staff member by calling 304-293-5600.
42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d – 2000d-7
34 C.F.R. 100
Education and Title VI – U.S. Department of Education Website
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Employees)
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, protects individuals against employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. This law also makes retaliation against a person who reported or filed a complaint of discrimination or participated in an investigation of discrimination illegal.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is responsible for enforcing Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII applies to most employers, including WVU.
Obligations under Title VII
It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer -
- to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex or national origin; or
- to limit, segregate or classify his employees or applicants for employment in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employment agency to fail or refuse to refer for employment, or otherwise to discriminate against, any individual because of his race, color, religion, sex or national origin, or to classify or refer for employment any individual on the basis of his race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
Highlighted text comes from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) website.
Equal Opportunity
WVU is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.
Learn more about equal opportunity and affirmative action at WVU
Questions? Want to know more?
Title VII helps to foster a safe and respectful University environment. In addition to knowing who WVU’s Director of Equity Assurance is (James Goins Jr), you should also be knowledgeable of why Title VII is important to you and our University community. Equity Assurance questions and reports can be made to the Director of Equity Assurance at 304-293-5600. For employment-specific questions or requests for information, visit WVU Talent and Culture.