The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) has reached a $4.5 million settlement to resolve a class action gender equity lawsuit, marking a significant step toward addressing pay disparities among its faculty. The settlement will provide back pay to 386 female faculty members and implement ongoing measures to ensure pay equity.
Under the agreement, the university will conduct equity reviews every three years and make faculty and applicant salary data publicly accessible. These provisions aim to address systemic disparities and prevent future inequities.
“The plaintiff class has worked hard to ensure the settlement includes periodic equity reviews and wage transparency,” said lead plaintiff Shelly Miller, a mechanical engineer and professor. “This is a critical part of the settlement and will help reduce or eliminate pay disparities between female and male [CU Boulder] faculty members going forward.”
The lawsuit, filed in Denver district court alongside the settlement, alleged violations of the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Attorneys argued that CU Boulder identified pay disparities in a 2021 equity review but failed to issue legally required backpay.
Chancellor Justin Schwartz signed the settlement, while denying any wrongdoing, stating the agreement was intended to avoid the risks and expenses of litigation. University spokesperson Nicole Mueksch reaffirmed CU Boulder’s commitment to fair wages, noting the institution will maintain salary equity, transparency, and campus-wide salary analyses.
Backpay ranged from several hundred dollars to nearly $50,000 per faculty member, with recipients spanning disciplines from science to the humanities. The group included decorated scholars, such as National Science Foundation award winners and a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow.
Advocates hope CU Boulder’s example will inspire other institutions to follow suit in addressing wage disparities and fostering transparency.
