LOS ANGELES – A Cornell Law professor has launched a federal civil rights complaint against the University of California, Los Angeles, accusing the prestigious public institution of operating more than a dozen scholarships that discriminate based on race, sex, or national origin. The complaint, filed on November 7, 2025, with the U.S. Department of Education's civil rights office, targets 13 specific programs at UCLA, claiming they violate Title VI and Title IX of federal civil rights laws, which prohibit discrimination in federally funded educational institutions.
William A. Jacobson, a professor at Cornell Law School and founder of the Equal Protection Project, spearheaded the filing. He argues that scholarships limited to groups such as 'LatinX' freshmen, 'Pilipinx' students, undocumented undergraduates, and female applicants unfairly exclude others. 'That race- and sex-based discriminatory scholarships exist at a major and highly visible public university is shocking,' Jacobson told Fox News Digital. 'UCLA should know better than to run scholarships or programs that treat students differently based on race, color, national origin, or sex.'
The complaint highlights several scholarships administered through UCLA's portal. For instance, the UCLA Latino Alumni Association scholarship is designated for 'incoming LatinX freshmen and transfer students,' while the Pilipino Alumni Association award targets students 'who indicate their membership in the Pilipinx community.' Another, the Undocumented Alumni Association Scholarship, is restricted to undocumented students, and the Raza Women’s Alumni Scholarship gives preference to 'incoming Latina freshmen and transfer students.'
Jacobson pointed out the irony in UCLA's use of the term 'LatinX,' especially in light of comments from California Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this year. Newsom had stated that 'no one says Latinx,' yet the university, part of the UC system under his oversight, employs the term in its official scholarship criteria. The complaint also calls out two scholarships for students of Armenian descent and a Deloitte Foundation award that supports 'meritorious female students.'
UCLA defends its approach through a statement on its scholarship portal, emphasizing compliance with regulations. 'UCLA administers all identity-conscious financial aid and scholarships in compliance with federal, state, and university regulations,' the statement reads. It 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 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.'
Despite this defense, Jacobson contends that the policies still infringe on federal law. '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 filing requests that federal officials investigate the matter and, if violations are found, suspend UCLA's federal funding until the programs are reformed. UCLA, one of the top public universities in the nation, receives substantial federal support, making the potential consequences significant. As of now, neither UCLA nor Gov. Newsom's office has responded to requests for comment on the complaint.
This isn't the first time UCLA has faced scrutiny over its policies. Earlier this year, the university was involved in a settlement agreement regarding anti-Israel protests and allegations of antisemitism on campus, as discussed by Becket Fund counsel Jordan Varberg on Fox News. That case highlighted tensions around free speech and discrimination, though it was unrelated to scholarships.
Broader context reveals similar challenges across California's higher education landscape. For example, a class at UC Berkeley has drawn attention for focusing on how 'racial superiority' shapes immigration law and anti-ICE rhetoric, according to reports. Additionally, elite California colleges have faced Title VI complaints over scholarships linked to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Jacobson's Equal Protection Project has been active in challenging what it sees as discriminatory practices in education. The organization, founded by Jacobson, aims to promote equal treatment under the law without regard to race or ethnicity. This latest complaint against UCLA fits into a pattern of legal actions against universities nationwide following the Supreme Court's 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which struck down affirmative action in college admissions.
In that landmark ruling, the Court held that race-based admissions policies violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. While the decision directly addressed admissions, legal experts like Jacobson argue its principles extend to other areas, including scholarships. 'The Supreme Court has made it clear that racial preferences in education are unconstitutional,' Jacobson has previously stated in similar contexts.
Supporters of identity-conscious scholarships argue they address historical inequities and promote diversity on campus. At UCLA, where the student body is diverse – with about 30% of undergraduates identifying as Hispanic/Latino, 27% as Asian, and 20% as white, according to university data – such programs are seen by some as essential for supporting underrepresented groups.
Critics, however, including Jacobson, maintain that these initiatives perpetuate division. The complaint details how the scholarships' criteria explicitly exclude applicants who do not fit the specified identities, potentially disadvantaging qualified students from other backgrounds. For undocumented students, the scholarship provides crucial aid in a state where California has taken steps to support such individuals, including through the California Dream Act, which offers state financial aid to eligible undocumented students.
The use of terms like 'LatinX' and 'Pilipinx' has itself been controversial. 'LatinX' is intended as a gender-neutral alternative to 'Latino' or 'Latina,' but it has faced backlash from some in the community who view it as imposed and disconnected from cultural norms. Gov. Newsom's dismissal of the term underscores this divide, even as institutions like UCLA continue to use it.
As the Department of Education reviews the complaint, the outcome could influence scholarship policies across the University of California system and beyond. If an investigation proceeds, it may lead to changes in how universities structure financial aid, potentially shifting toward need-based or merit-based models without identity preferences. For now, the debate highlights ongoing tensions between equity initiatives and anti-discrimination laws in American higher education.