BOULDER, Colo. — Last week, the University of Colorado Boulder reached a $4.5 million settlement with nearly 400 women faculty following a lawsuit alleging gender pay discrimination.
Shelly Miller, CU Boulder environmental engineering professor, was apart of the university's settlement, but said it was not about the money.
"There were 16 of us who finally came together and said, 'We have nothing to lose. Let's lead this action,'" Miller said.
A review the university conducted in 2021 found that 386 female faculty members were paid less than male staff members in similar roles, which violated state law.
The university gave those women raises, but did not offer back pay. The settlement would give those women that back pay.
"There were many, many women who did not want to participate because they were concerned about the optics. They were concerned about retaliation," Miller said.
In the settlement, CU Boulder agreed to conduct follow-up equity reviews every three years. Miller said those reviews would eliminate the process she had to go through.
"I had to go to the library and pull up a microfiche and look up the salaries," she said. "I realized, at that time, 'Oh! I’m actually underpaid compared to one of my peers.'"
The back pay for each staff member ranges from hundreds of dollars to nearly $50,000.
"This is a real precedence setting and I’m proud because I have younger female colleagues. Now I'm hopeful that this will enable [them] to be successful in [their] career here," said Miller.
The university denies any wrongdoing. They sent 9NEWS this statement:
"The University of Colorado Boulder has reached a settlement with female faculty members who alleged pay discrimination under Colorado’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The settlement includes backpay to those female faculty members who received pay adjustments following a comprehensive salary equity review the university proactively conducted in 2021, which identified pay inequities among its female faculty.
CU Boulder is committed to providing fair and equitable wages to all employees across all disciplines. As part of its continuous commitment to salary equity, the university will ensure academic units maintain salary equity among faculty members, maintain transparency in faculty salaries and conduct a campus wide salary equity analysis every three years."