February 20, 2025
Dear UNL Community,
By now you should be aware of recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Education regarding the nondiscrimination obligations of schools and other entities that receive federal financial assistance, as well as University of Nebraska System President Jeffrey Gold’s message on that guidance distributed earlier today. The Dear Colleague Letter provided a 14-day deadline for institutions to comply or risk losing federal funding.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln does not discriminate, and we strive to ensure all our activities and policies comply with all federal and state law. While this recent guidance does not carry the force of law, we must nevertheless take it seriously as it signals how the Department of Education intends to interpret federal law.
In response, we will be conducting a thorough and thoughtful review of UNL activities. This will require key stakeholders to work efficiently and effectively to ensure we do not discriminate, as we focus on our commitment to student success.
To ensure our full compliance and our ongoing commitment to student support and success, I am engaging key stakeholders, including representatives from the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance, and Faculty, Staff and Student governance groups. We will also lean on legal guidance and our federal partners to fully understand our legal responsibilities.
I want to acknowledge that this Department of Education guidance may be raising questions for you specific to your role as a student, or faculty or staff member. We will seek those answers and keep you informed of new guidance and developments.
Thank you for your commitment to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and to ensuring that our university remains a place where every person and every interaction matters.
Rodney D. Bennett
Chancellor