Title VI Coordinator

Claire Sharples Brooks

Interim Title VI Coordinator
Title VI Office
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
614 E. Daniel Street, Suite 303
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 300-1311
TitleVIOffice@Illinois.edu

Role of the Title VI Coordinator

The Title VI Coordinator is responsible for and authorized to coordinate the university’s efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Title VI, which prohibits discrimination, harassment, and related retaliation on the basis of race, color, and national origin including shared ancestry and ethnic characteristics in education programs and activities for institutions that receive federal financial assistance.

The Title VI Coordinator oversees the university’s response to all reports and complaints of Title VI Misconduct to monitor outcomes, identify any patterns, and assess their effects on the campus climate. The Title VI Coordinator will periodically assess available data from reports, investigations, and findings of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation at least annually. This assessment will facilitate the identification of any patterns, recidivism, or collective incidents that may warrant additional inquiry or response to eliminate a hostile environment in a university program or activity.

The Title VI Coordinator determines whether, and in what manner, the university proceeds in responding to a report of Title VI Misconduct when a request for anonymity, no action, or informal resolution is made.

The Title VI Coordinator oversees all hostile environment assessments conducted on each report of Title VI Misconduct whether the conduct occurs on campus, off campus, or on social media.

The Title VI Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that training is provided annually to all personnel responsible for investigating reports of Title VI Misconduct, all university police and other law enforcement personnel, and all university students, faculty, and staff.

The Title VI Coordinator is responsible for annually searching university websites and publications to ensure accuracy of information on policies and procedures regarding discrimination, including harassment, or retaliation, or links to such policies, procedures, and forms are operational.

Contact the Title VI Office to:

• Seek information or request a training about the university’s policies and procedures related to Title VI.
• Make a report of Title VI Misconduct.
• Obtain information about and for coordination of resources (including confidential resources) and supportive measures relating to Title VI Misconduct.
• Notify the university of an incident, event, policy, or procedure that may raise potential Title VI concerns.

Information on how to report issues to the Title VI Office and procedures will be available the week of January 26, 2025.

The Title VI Office at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is primarily responsible for coordinating the university’s compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This includes providing leadership, oversight, consultation, education, and training to the university community around the topic of Title VI. It also includes helping to ensure that the university responds appropriately and effectively to issues and grievances related to Title VI.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides that 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.

Title VI Misconduct includes discrimination, harassment and related retaliation on the basis of race, color, and national origin, including shared ancestry and ethnic characteristics.

Nondiscrimination Policy

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is committed to providing a safe and welcoming campus environment that is free from all forms of discrimination. The Nondiscrimination Policy is designed to promote a safe and healthy learning and work environment and to comply with all applicable state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination, including but not limited to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Consideration for free speech and academic freedom

Free speech and academic freedom are foundational to our university’s missions of discovery and exploration. Questioning ideas, posing alternative opinions, and presenting different perspectives is how we create knowledge and help everyone to have more meaningful engagement with the world around them. The manner in which those freedoms are expressed is not unlimited and expressive conduct must still comply with applicable laws and university policies.