Another Equal Protection Project Win – U Nebraska-Omaha Removes Discriminatory Language from Scholarships

Another Equal Protection Project Win – U Nebraska-Omaha Removes Discriminatory Language from Scholarships

In mid-May, the Equal Protection Project (EPP) challenged two scholarships at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO). It was a unique case because it marked the 100th school EPP had filed against for discriminatory scholarships or programs. It was also unique because one of the challenged scholarships was unlawful because it was for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) or DACA-eligible students.

From Professor Jacobson’s post at the time of filing: Equal Protection Project Challenges 100th School – DACA-Only Scholarship At U. Nebraska Omaha:

The Equal Protection Project was launched in February 2023 to challenge DEI discrimination in education. In just over two years we have had a tremendous impact, regularly being recognized across the media (mainstream, conservative, liberal) as the leader in challenging discriminatory programs, scholarships, and practices in higher education. While higher ed has been our focus, we also have brought K-12 public school challenges as well as a major lawsuit challenging a NY State grant program affecting over 10,000 high school and middle school students a year.

Our media presence has been staggering. I’ve done over 300 distinct and over 900 total broadcast interviews (including reruns and broadcasts on multiple platforms). EPP’s work has over 2600 digital media mentions. Our earned media reaches tens of millions of people.

Yesterday was another milestone – we filed a legal challenge to the 100th school, the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO), involving two scholarships, one for “minority” students and the other for DACA or DACA-eligible students. Across these 100 schools we have challenged over 400 separate programs and scholarships, with a verified impact or ‘win’ in over 70 of them (most are pending and not yet resolved). In cases that are concluded, we’ve never lost on the merits, but have had a handful dismissed on procedural grounds. [Emphasis added.]

Fox News covered our filing, Civil rights group claims DACA-only scholarships constitute illegal discrimination against American students, and now it turns out that UNO has removed the discriminatory language from both challenged scholarships — winning!

From the Nebraska-based Flatwater Free Press: Nebraska colleges, saying they have little choice, are axing scholarships that favored immigrants, single moms, LGBTQ students:

Since March, MCC [Metropolitan Community College in Omaha] and other Nebraska colleges and universities have revised their guidelines for awarding scholarships in an attempt, they say, to comply with new guidance from the Trump administration. The directive instructed schools and higher-ed institutions to eliminate long-accepted practices now deemed discriminatory or risk losing federal funding.

Scrutiny isn’t coming from just the federal government. The Flatwater Free Press found that the University of Nebraska at Omaha recently removed preferential language from two scholarships that were the subject of a complaint filed by a national advocacy group [i.e., EPP] that opposes affirmative action…

The University of Nebraska at Omaha, in particular, is currently facing backlash from multiple entities, including the Equal Protection Project, a campaign led by a nonprofit that opposes race-based policies.

The group filed a complaint with the Department of Education last month alleging two of the university’s scholarships violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits intentional discrimination on the basis of race, color and/or national origin.

“Regardless of UNO’s reasons for offering, promoting, and administering such discriminatory scholarships, UNO is violating Title VI by doing so,” the complaint states.

UNO’s Dreamers Pathway scholarship was for Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or DACA-eligible Nebraska residents. The scholarship is no longer listed on UNO’s scholarship website and the link now leads to the Forward Together scholarship for Nebraska residents.

Its HDR scholarship had a preference for underrepresented minority students at the time the complaint was filed, but UNO has since eliminated that preference from the scholarship’s language.

UNO is one of about 100 institutions across the country that have faced complaints from the group…

In an initial statement, university officials said they continually evaluate the university’s scholarships and are committed to complying with all federal and state laws.

Good to hear.

We have independently verified that UNO has removed the discriminatory language/requirement from both scholarships, so we here at EPP are counting the UNO case as a WIN on our ledger.

Reminder: We are a small organization going up against powerful and wealthy government and private institutions devoted to DEI discrimination. Donations are greatly needed and appreciated.

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