Nick Stergiou, assistant dean and director for the Division of Biomechanics and Research Development, speaks at the Biomechanics Research Building expansion groundbreaking at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in Omaha on Thursday, May 29, 2025.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha is the target of a U.S. Department of Education investigation into whether two of its scholarship programs unfairly favor minorities and students born outside the United States.
The Department of Education announced Wednesday that it opened an investigation into UNO and four other universities regarding scholarships for students under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an Obama-era program for children who were brought to the U.S. illegally.
The Education Department alleges that scholarships provided exclusively to DACA recipients violate civil rights law by discriminating based on national origin and taking resources away from American citizens.
“Neither the Trump Administration’s America First policies nor the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s prohibition on national origin discrimination permit universities to deny our fellow citizens the opportunity to compete for scholarships because they were born in the United States,” Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said in a press release.
The investigation is based on a complaint filed in May by the Equal Protection Project, a nonprofit campaign that opposes race-based policies.
“Regardless of UNO’s reasons for offering, promoting, and administering such discriminatory scholarships, UNO is violating Title VI by doing so,” the complaint states.
Sam Peshek, a spokesperson for UNO, said the university is continually evaluating scholarships to ensure compliance with state and federal laws.
“Although we have no comment on the specifics of the investigation, we will fully cooperate with the Department of Education,” he said.
The complaint named the Dreamer’s Pathway Scholarship, for “students who are DACA or DACA-eligible and Nebraska residents who are seeking an undergraduate degree.”
Typically, undocumented students’ only form of financial aid comes from private scholarships, as they are ineligible for federal and state aid such as the Pell Grant.
Efrén Olivares, a vice president at the National Immigration Law Center, told The New York Times that the move by the Education Department could make it harder for DACA students to earn degrees.
“We condemn this action and call on Congress to immediately pass legislation to provide permanent protections for DACA recipients and other immigrants who came to the United States as children,” he said.
The Education Department is also investigating the HDR Scholarship, which was also named in the complaint for giving preference to underrepresented minority students.
Since the complaint was filed, UNO removed its preference for minority students for the HDR Scholarship, according to a report by Flatwater Free Press. Additionally, the Deamer’s Pathway Scholarship was removed from UNO’s website and links redirect to a Forward Together scholarship for Nebraska residents.
“Protecting equal access to education includes protecting the rights of American-born students. At the Equal Protection Project, we are gratified that the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is acting on our complaints regarding scholarships that excluded American-born students,” William Jacobson, founder of the Equal Protection Project, said in the release. “Discrimination against American-born students must not be tolerated.”
The discrimination investigation follows another probe launched in March into UNO for allegedly engaging in race-exclusionary practices in its graduate programs.
The University of Louisville, University of Miami, University of Michigan and Western Michigan University are also being investigated for offering similar scholarships.
Correction: An earlier version of this story had an incorrect spelling of Sam Peshek’s name.
Layla, the dog runs around while outside while at the Nebraska Humane Society in Omaha on Friday, July 7, 2025. Nebraska Humane Society is doing special pricing on pets to help find room for needy animals from Texas flooding.
People watch fireworks go off in the sky during the annual firework show in Ralston on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
Theodore the dog shakes water off after jumping into a pool at Omaha Dog Bar, 1231 S 14th St., in Omaha on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
From left, Noah Winslow, 10, Isaiah King and Lamarus Secret fish at Benson Park in Omaha on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
Talons’ Ali Aguilar (3) fields a ball hit by Bandits’ Sydney McKinney (26) during an Athletes Unlimited Softball League game at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Friday, July 11, 2025.
Bandits’ Delanie Wisz (97) scores ahead of the tag by Talons’ Sharlize Palacios (13) during the eighth innning during an Athletes Unlimited Softball League game at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Friday, July 11, 2025.
Bandits’ Erin Coffel (21) is called out after being tagged by Talons’ Hannah Flippen (19) trying to steal duing the seventh inning during an Athletes Unlimited Softball League game at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Friday, July 11, 2025.
Talons’ Sierra Sacco (21) celebrates tying the game on a home run in the bottom of the seventh inning during an Athletes Unlimited Softball League game at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Friday, July 11, 2025.
Dylan Raiola leads a group of campers during his first youth football camp in Lincoln on Saturday, July 19, 2025.
The Talons lift Ali Aguilar (3) after she drove in the game-winning run in extra innings during an Athletes Unlimited Softball League game at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Friday, July 11, 2025.
Bandits’ Bella Dayton (6) can’t catcht his home run by Talons’ Jadelyn Allchin (90) during an Athletes Unlimited Softball League game at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Friday, July 11, 2025.
Talons’ Hannah Flippen (19) celebrates a third-inning home run during an Athletes Unlimited Softball League game at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Friday, July 11, 2025.
A crash near the 14th Street closed westbound I480 in Omaha on Friday, July 11, 2025.
justin.diep@owh.com, 402-444-1304, www.x.com/Justin_Diep_
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Nick Stergiou, assistant dean and director for the Division of Biomechanics and Research Development, speaks at the Biomechanics Research Buil…
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