What To Include in Your Complaint

Anyone wishing to file a formal complaint with ODEO 

should submit in writing the following information in 

a letter:

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Your name and address (a telephone number 

where you can be reached during business hours 

is helpful, but not required);

A general description of the person(s) or class of 

persons injured by the alleged discriminatory act(s) 

(names of the injured person(s) are not required);

The name and location of the institution that committed the alleged discriminatory acts; and 

A description of the alleged discriminatory act(s) 

in sufficient detail to enable ODEO to understand 

what occurred, when it occurred, and the basis 

for the alleged discrimination (race, color, national 

origin, sex, disability, or age).

It should be noted that a recipient of NASA financial 

assistance may not retaliate against any person who 

has made a complaint, testified, a s sisted, o r p a rticipated in any manner in an investigation or proceeding 

under the four laws listed above.

Where To Send Your Complaint 

Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity

300 E Street SW

6th Floor 

Washington, DC 20546

Telephone: 202-358-2180

TDD: 202-358-3748

Fax: 202-358-3336

E-mail: civilrightsinfo@nasa.gov

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

inclusion

Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity 

in NASA-Assisted Programs and Activities:

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

and Related Nondiscrimination Laws

Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA Headquarters

300 E Street SW, 4W39

Washington, DC 20546

www.nasa.gov
NASA’s Roles and Responsibilities

NASA’s Financial Assistance Programs

NASA provides financial assistance to a wide range of 

recipients including institutions of higher education, 

non-profit organizations, and private corporations. NASA 

awards approximately $1 billion a year in financial assistance to these entities. This assistance comes mainly in 

the form of grants and cooperative agreements between 

NASA and its recipients.

Civil Rights Laws Enforced by NASA

Under Federal civil rights law, all recipients of NASA 

financial assistance are prohibited from discriminating 

on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. NASA enforces four civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination in programs and activities receiving 

NASA financial assistance. These include:

n Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibiting 

discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin); 

 Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 

(prohibiting sex discrimination in NASA-assisted 

education programs and activities);

 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (prohibiting disability discrimination); and 

 Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (prohibiting age 

discrimination).

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These civil rights laws represent a national commitment 

to end discrimination in programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance. The laws also assist 

NASA to promote its core values and foster cultures 

of trust, respect, teamwork, communication, creativity, 

equal opportunity, and empowerment among programs 

and activities receiving NASA funding.

The Office of Equal Opportunity Programs

Within NASA, the Office of Diversity and Equal 

Opportunity (ODEO) is charged with enforcing the four 

laws to protect the rights of beneficiaries in programs 

or activities receiving NASA financial assistance. Part of 

ODEO’s charge is to receive, investigate, and adjudicate 

complaints alleging violations of the civil rights laws by 

recipients of NASA assistance. 

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Roles and Responsibilities 

of NASA Recipients

Examples of Specific Requirements for Recipients

The regulations implementing Title VI, Title IX, Section 

504, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 contain 

specific requirements for recipients on issuing notices 

of nondiscrimination and publicly disseminating nondiscrimination requirements. In accordance with the regulations, notification may include posting information 

notices, publishing in local newspapers, or distributing 

memoranda or other written communications to employees and beneficiaries of the programs and activities 

operated by the recipient. 

A “combined” notice of nondiscrimination containing 

two basic elements will suffice to meet the requirements of the regulations. These two elements are: (1)

a statement of nondiscrimination that specifies the 

basis for nondiscrimination; and (2) identification by 

name or title, address, and telephone number of the 

employee or employees responsible for coordinating 

compliance efforts.

To learn more about recipients’ compliance requirements, visit NASA’s MissionSTEM Web site at

http://missionstem.nasa.gov/.

Examples of Prohibited Discrimination

The following actions may violate civil rights laws if they 

are based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, 

or age:

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Denying an individual any service, financial aid, or 

other benefit provided under the program;

Providing any service, financial aid, or other benefit 

to an individual which is different, or is provided 

in a different manner, from that provided to others 

under the program;

Subjecting an individual to segregation or separate 

treatment in any matter related to his/her receipt of 

any service, financial aid, or other benefit under the 

program;

Restricting an individual in any way in the enjoyment of any advantage or privilege enjoyed by 

others receiving any service, financial aid, or other 

benefit under the program;

Treating an individual differently from others in 

determining whether he/she satisfies any admission, enrollment, quota, eligibility, membership, 

or other requirement or condition which individuals must meet in order to be provided any service, 

financial aid, or other benefit provided under the 

program;

Denying an individual an opportunity to participate 

in the program through the provision of services or 

otherwise afford him/her an opportunity to do so 

which is different from that afforded others under 

the program; and/or

Using criteria or methods of administration which 

have the effect of subjecting individuals to discrimination because of their race, color, or national origin, or have the effect of defeating or substantially 

impairing the accomplishment of the objectives of 

the program respective to individuals of a particular 

race, color, or national origin.

Filing a Complaint 

of Discrimination

Who May File a Complaint

Anyone who believes that a recipient of NASA financial 

assistance has discriminated against someone on the 

basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age 

may file a complaint of discrimination under one or more 

of the civil rights laws. A complaint must be filed within 

180 days of the alleged discrimination, unless the time 

for filing is extended by ODEO for good cause.