A recently settled class action gender equity lawsuit will require the University of Colorado Boulder to pay a combined $4.5 million in attorney fees and missed wages to 386 women faculty members, according to Colorado Public Radio.
The lawsuit found that CU Boulder discriminated on the basis of gender in violation of the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. In 2021, CU Boulder conducted an internal equity review that determined 386 women faculty members were paid less than their male counterparts in similar positions. The university sought to alleviate the discrepancy by providing raises to the affected women, but failed to pay backpay as is required under federal and state law.
The backpay alone for each affected faculty member ranges from hundreds of dollars to nearly $50,000 for some women. In addition to issuing backpay, CU Boulder has agreed to conduct follow-up equity reviews every three years and publicize the wages of current faculty members and job applicants going forward.