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Cornell law professor William A. Jacobson has filed a federal civil rights complaint against the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), alleging that the university operates more than a dozen scholarships that illegally discriminate against students based on race, sex, or national origin.
The complaint, submitted to the U.S. Department of Education’s civil rights office on November 7, 2025, names 13 scholarship programs that Jacobson claims violate Title VI and Title IX of federal civil rights law, which prohibit discrimination by institutions receiving federal funding.
“That race- and sex-based discriminatory scholarships exist at a major and highly visible public university is shocking,” said Jacobson, who is the founder of the Equal Protection Project. “UCLA should know better than to run scholarships or programs that treat students differently based on race, color, national origin, or sex.”
Among the programs cited in the complaint is the UCLA Latino Alumni Association scholarship, created specifically for “incoming LatinX freshmen and transfer students.” Another program, the Pilipino Alumni Association award, restricts eligibility to students “who indicate their membership in the Pilipinx community.” The Undocumented Alumni Association Scholarship is limited to undocumented students, while the Raza Women’s Alumni Scholarship gives preference to “incoming Latina freshmen and transfer students.”
The complaint also targets two scholarships for students of Armenian descent and a Deloitte Foundation award supporting “meritorious female students.” Jacobson argues that these criteria directly conflict with federal law as well as the university’s own nondiscrimination policies.
The terminology used in these scholarships has raised additional questions, particularly regarding UCLA’s use of the term “LatinX.” The complaint notes that California Governor Gavin Newsom, who oversees the UC system, publicly stated earlier this year that “no one says Latinx.” Despite this disavowal from the state’s highest office, UCLA continues to use the term as an official eligibility criterion for taxpayer-funded scholarships.
UCLA’s scholarship portal includes a statement defending its approach to what it calls “identity-conscious” financial aid programs. According to the university, “UCLA administers all identity-conscious financial aid and scholarships in compliance with federal, state, and university regulations.” The statement further explains that “Identity-conscious awards may include a preference for a student’s race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, color, ethnicity, or national origin.”
The university maintains that its “pooled application process allows students to be considered for multiple scholarships and is used in determining the source of a recipient’s aid, but not their eligibility, receipt, or amount of financial aid.”
Jacobson, however, rejected this justification, asserting that the university has crossed a clear legal boundary. “Creating educational opportunities based on race, color, national origin, or sex violates Titles VI and IX of the Civil Rights Act,” he said. “It’s time for higher education to focus on the inherent worth of every student rather than categorizing them by identity groups.”
The complaint comes amid growing national scrutiny of race-based admissions and scholarship programs at American universities following the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling against affirmative action in college admissions. Many institutions have been reviewing their diversity programs to ensure compliance with the changing legal landscape.
The Equal Protection Project’s filing requests that federal officials conduct a formal investigation and, if violations are found, suspend UCLA’s federal funding until the scholarship programs are modified to comply with federal civil rights laws.
As of publication, neither UCLA nor Governor Newsom’s office had responded to requests for comment on the allegations.
This case represents another significant challenge to how universities implement diversity initiatives while navigating complex legal requirements around equal protection and non-discrimination in higher education.
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13 Comments
This is a tricky issue with valid arguments on both sides. On one hand, we want to provide opportunities for underrepresented groups. But on the other, race-based policies can be legally and ethically dubious. Curious to see UCLA’s response.
Interesting to see this debate around race-based scholarships at a major public university. I can understand the desire to increase representation, but discriminating by race or ethnicity seems problematic from a legal and ethical standpoint. Curious to see UCLA’s response.
This is a very tricky issue. On one hand, the intent behind these scholarships is laudable – to increase diversity and opportunity. But the legality of race-based criteria is questionable. I’ll be interested to see UCLA’s response and whether they make any adjustments.
Agree, it’s a delicate balance. Hopefully UCLA can find ways to promote diversity that are legally and ethically sound. Looking forward to seeing how this unfolds.
Race-based scholarships are a complex and sensitive topic. While the goal of promoting diversity is understandable, the legality and fairness of such programs is debatable. I’ll be interested to follow how this plays out at UCLA.
Agreed, it’s a nuanced issue without easy answers. Careful consideration of all perspectives will be important as the university reviews its policies.
Scholarships that discriminate by race or ethnicity seem problematic, even if well-intentioned. I’m curious to learn more about the legal and ethical arguments on both sides of this issue at UCLA.
Valid concerns. Promoting access and inclusion is important, but it needs to be done in a way that doesn’t violate anti-discrimination laws. Curious to see UCLA’s defense of these programs.
Controversial topic for sure. I can understand the concern about potential discrimination, even if the intent is to increase diversity and access. Scholarships should be awarded based on merit and need, not race or ethnicity.
Scholarships should absolutely aim to increase access and representation, but doing so in a way that discriminates by race or ethnicity raises red flags. Curious to see UCLA’s defense of these programs and whether they’ll need to make changes.
Valid point. Promoting diversity is important, but in a way that complies with anti-discrimination laws. I’ll be following this story closely to see how it develops.
Interesting to see this debate around race-based scholarships at UCLA. While promoting diversity is important, it seems these programs could be crossing legal lines. Curious to see how this plays out and if the university revises its policies.
This is a complex topic with valid concerns on both sides. While the goal of boosting diversity is understandable, race-based scholarships raise questions about fairness and legality. I’ll be following this story closely to see how it unfolds at UCLA.