Responding to discrimination and harassment based on shared ancestry
January 13, 2025 10:17 AM

Dear Student, Faculty and Staff,

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign believes in creating an academic community that celebrates and supports the identities, cultures and faiths of all members of our university. To that end, we will not tolerate acts of discrimination, harassment, or related retaliation, based on race, color, or national origin, including shared ancestry and ethnic characteristics. This includes but is not limited to individuals who are or who are perceived to be Arab, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Israeli, Jewish, Muslim, Palestinian, Sikh, South Asian, or any other faith or ancestry, when the discrimination is based on their shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics.

The communities that compose Illinois are our greatest strength, and as part of our commitment to provide a safe and supportive educational and workplace environment, Illinois will take all necessary actions to address and ameliorate such discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The university has designated a campus coordinator to respond to complaints that pertain to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and to coordinate efforts reasonably calculated to eliminate any hostile environment, remedy its effects, and prevent its recurrence. 

Claire Sharples Brooks currently serves as the university's Interim Title VI Coordinator. You can learn more about this role at go.illinois.edu/TitleVI or by email at titlevioffice@illinois.edu. 

The process and procedures for reporting complaints about behavior that may constitute discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of race, color, or national origin, including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics under Title VI, will be shared with the campus community later this month through EWeek, GradLinks, and INews.

Sincerely,

Sean C. Garrick
Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion