U.Va. paid $200,000 to settle a discrimination lawsuit brought by former University administrator Betsy Ackerson, according to information obtained in an open records request by The Cavalier Daily. The suit was dismissed with prejudice from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia last month, meaning both parties had agreed that the matter is resolved.
While disbursements to employees are available under the Freedom of Information Act, the terms of a settlement agreement are exempt from public information requests. The University declined to disclose any further details about its settlement with Ackerson.
The lawsuit — filed in February 2017 — accused the University of violating four federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender, race or disability status, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Ackerson claimed the University paid her less than her male colleagues for similar work. She also alleged the University retaliated against her when she sought medical accommodations after being diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Ackerson claimed in her suit that the University stripped her of her private office during her medical leave, lowered her performance ratings and threatened to fire her.
The University denied the claims, but ultimately did choose to settle.
Ackerson now works for a private high school near Chicago.
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