Grinnell College is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in matters of admission, employment, and housing, and in access to and participation in its education programs, services, or activities. No person shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, religion, creed, or disability.

The application of the College's nondiscrimination policy will often involve conflicting interests. This may especially be the case when it is applied to questions of freedom of speech and freedom of association. Because of these inherent difficulties, the application of the nondiscrimination policy may not be simple or straightforward. Since the primary business of the College is liberal education, and because liberal education cannot take place without the free, open, and civil exchange of ideas, the application of the nondiscrimination policy should always be made with consideration of how best to preserve that free, open, and civil exchange of ideas.