Nondiscrimination and ~~uat~~~ortu

in NASA-Assisted Programs and Activitie .. --

Title VI of the Civil RightsAct of 1964 

and RelatedNondiscrimination Laws 

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Office of Dlvediy and EqualUpportunity u 

What To Include in Your Complaint 

Anyone wishing to file a formal complaint with OD& EO 

should submit in writing the following information in 

a letter: 

Your name and address (atelephone 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) 

(namesof the injured person(s)are not required); 

The name and location of the institutionthat committed the alleged discriminatory acts; and 

A description of the alleged discriminatory act(s) in 

sufficient detail to enable OD & EO 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 

assistancemay not retaliateagainstany personwho has 

made a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in 

any manner in an investigation or proceeding under 

the four laws listed above. * 'I 

Where To Send Your Complaint 

Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity 

SW M 

Room 4W39 

Washington, DC 20546 

Complaints Hotline: 866-654-1440 

Telephone: 202-358-2167 

TDD: 202-358-3748 

Fax: 202-358-3336 

E-mail: AssistedProgramComptaint@NASA.gov 

or LEP@NASA.gov 
NASA's Roles and Responsibilities 

NASA's Finamlal Assistance Programs 

NASA providesfinancial assistanceto a wide range of 

recipients including institutions of higher education, 

nonprofit organizations, and private corporations. 

NASA awards over $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. 

Civll Rlghts Laws Enforcedby NASA 

Under Federal civil rights law, all recipients of NASA 

financial assistance are prohibited from discriminating 

on the basisof race, color, national origin, sex, disability, 

or age. NASA enforces four civil rights laws prohibiting 

discrimination among programsand activities receiving 

NASA financial assistance. These include: 

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibiting 

discrimination on the basis of race, color, and 

national origin); 

Title IX of the EducationAmendments 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) 

These civil rights laws represent a national commitmemt 

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

NASA in promoting one of its core values-fostering "a 

culture of trust, respect,teamwork, communication,creativity, equal opportunity, and empowemlent." (NASA 

Strategic Plan 2003) 

The Mflce of Diversiiyand Equal OpportlrnZty 

Within NASA, the Office of Diversity and Equal 

Opportunity(OD& EO) ischarged withenforcingthe four 

lawsto protectthe rightsof beneficiatiesin programsor 

activities receiving NASA financial assistance. Part of 

OD & EO's charge is to receive, investigate, and adjudicate complaintsallegingviolationsof the civil rightslaws 

by recipientsof NASA assistance. 

Roles and Responsibilities 

of NASA Reclpients 

Speclfic Requirements for Reclpients 

The regulations implementingTitle VI, Title IX, Section 

504, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 contain 

specific requirementsfor recipients on issuing notices 

of nondiscrimination and publicly disseminating 

nondiscrimination requirements. In accordance with 

the regulations, notification may includeposting 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 nondiscriminationcontaining 

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

a statement of nondiscriminationthat 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. 

Examples of ProhiblW Discrimination 

The following actions may violate civil rights laws if 

they are based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age: 

Denying an individual any service, financial aid, or 

other benefit provided under the program; 

Providing any service, financial aid, or other benef~ 

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 hidher 

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 hirnlher an opportunity to do so 

which is different from that afforded others under 

the program; andlor 

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 accomplishment of the objectives of the 

program respective to individuals of a particular 

race, color, or national origin. 

Filing a Complaint 

of Dlscrlmlnatlon 

Who May Flle 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 90 days of the alleged discrimination, unlessthe time for filing is extended by OD & EO 

for good cause.