Why are top US universities facing questions over who really qualifies for scholarships?
The US Department of Education has opened investigations into five prominent universities over concerns that some of their scholarships may be unlawfully excluding American-born students.
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is examining whether certain scholarships reserved exclusively for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or undocumented students violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on national origin.
The universities under scrutiny include the University of Louisville, the University of Nebraska Omaha, the University of Miami, the University of Michigan, and Western Michigan University.
The investigations follow complaints filed by the Legal Insurrection Foundation's Equal Protection Project, which alleges that the scholarships in question unlawfully restrict eligibility, thereby discriminating against US citizens.
Investigations focus on scholarships reserved for undocumented students
According to the complaints, the University of Louisville's Sagar Patagundi Scholarship is designated for undergraduate DACA and undocumented students to subsidise the cost of higher education.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime
Techno Mag
Learn More
Undo
The University of Nebraska Omaha's Dreamer's Pathway Scholarship targets DACA or DACA-eligible Nebraska residents seeking an undergraduate degree. Similarly, the University of Miami offers the U Dreamers Program to academically talented high school seniors and transfer students with DACA or undocumented status.
The University of Michigan provides the Dreamer Scholarship, which is intended to support undocumented students or those with DACA status.
Western Michigan University also offers the WMU Undocumented/DACA Scholarship for undergraduate students who cannot receive federal student aid due to their undocumented or DACA status.
Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor stated, '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.'
Further probes into scholarships based on race and colour
In addition to the scholarships focused on national origin, the OCR will examine other scholarships that allegedly exclude students based on race and colour, which could also violate Title VI. Examples include the University of Louisville's Dawn Wilson Scholarship for undergraduate LGBTQ+ students of colour and the Louisville Tango Festival Scholarship for Latino/a/x and Hispanic students.
The University of Nebraska Omaha's HDR Scholarship reportedly gives preference to underrepresented minority students.
Western Michigan University's Elissa Gatlin Endowed Scholarship is designated for African American, Native American, or Hispanic American students.
William A. Jacobson, founder of the Equal Protection Project, remarked, 'Protecting equal access to education includes protecting the rights of American-born students. Discrimination against American-born students must not be tolerated.' The Legal Insurrection Foundation's Equal Protection Project initiated these complaints in order to ensure equal protection under the law and prevent government discrimination in any form.
The investigations mark a notable expansion of enforcement efforts under the current administration to address alleged discrimination in US higher education, emphasising the protection of American students and lawful residents from exclusionary scholarship practices.
TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us
here
.
Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
35 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Court grants bail to man accused in kidnapping case involving Vikas Yadav
New Delhi, A Delhi court has granted bail to a co-accused in the extortion and kidnapping case involving Vikas Yadav, a former Indian government official charged by the US authorities for his alleged role in a foiled plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. Court grants bail to man accused in kidnapping case involving Vikas Yadav Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Partap Singh Laler, who was hearing the bail plea of Jalaluddin alias Sameer, said that there was undisputed evidence of the complainant and the accused travelling together to Thailand, merely three weeks after registration of the FIR on January 6, 2024, creating a prima facie doubt. In its order dated July 23, the court noted that the complainant, Raj Kumar Walia, alleged that he was kidnapped, assaulted, and robbed by co-accused Vikas Yadav and Abdullah Khan on December 17, 2023, where Yadav claimed to be acting on behalf of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. "The complainant stated that he was forced to make a video call to the applicant/accused , who was purportedly based in Dubai, demanding hawala payments. The complainant was allegedly injected with a substance, beaten, and robbed of valuables, including cash, jewellery, and cheques," the court noted. It noted that the Delhi Police's special cell then registered an FIR invoking charges of kidnapping for ransom, attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, robbery, criminal conspiracy, and violations under the Arms Act. The court noted that Yadav and Khan were arrested earlier and certain recoveries were made at their instance, but Jalaluddin was arrested on July 1 this year for his alleged role in the criminal conspiracy. Jalauddin's counsel told the court that his client and Walia travelled to Thailand on the same day on January 6, 2024, shortly after the FIR was lodged on December 17, 2023, and this fact was not disclosed by the complainant to the Investigating Officer or the court at any stage. After examining the relevant passport pages, the court said, "The passport entries unequivocally confirm that both the complainant and the applicant arrived at Thailand on January 6, 2024. "The complainant's passport shows his arrival in Thailand on that date, and the applicant's passport and flight tickets corroborate the same." It said that while the photographs of Jalaluddin and Walia together, along with WhatsApp communications, were disputed by the complainant by alleging manipulation, the passport details were "undisputed and form objective evidence." The court said that despite repeated queries, Walia failed to explain the simultaneous travel to Thailand. It said Jaluddin's role was primarily conspiratorial, no recoveries had been effected from him, the investigation regarding him was complete, he had no prior criminal record, and he also assured compliance with court conditions. "However, the pivotal factor tilting the balance in favour of bail is the undisputed fact of the post-FIR travel to Thailand by both the complainant and the applicant. This occurrence, merely three weeks after the FIR, raises serious questions about the complainant's conduct and the credibility of his allegations," the court said. It said Walia was duty-bound to disclose this material fact to the IO and the court, as it directly impacted the prosecution's case. "His failure to do so, coupled with the lack of any plausible explanation despite court queries, suggests possible suppression of facts. While the disputed photographs and communications require forensic verification at trial, the passport evidence alone creates a prima facie doubt regarding the complainant's version, sufficient to justify bail at this stage," the court said. It granted him bail on furnishing a bail bond and two surety bonds of ₹1 lakh each and subject to several other conditions, including not tampering with evidence, not contacting the complainant and cooperating for expeditious disposal of the case. A chargesheet has already been filed against Jalauddin, and the matter has been fixed for further proceedings on August 25. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Mint
36 minutes ago
- Mint
Take a look at the front page that went viral as Trump arrived in Scotland
As US President Donald Trump arrived in Scotland on Saturday for a five-day contoversial visit to the UK and Europe, a Scottish newspaper went viral with its daring front page headline — 'Convicted US Felon to Arrive in Scotland'. The headline, which has been in the eye of a controversy since it came to light, was referring to the conviction of Trump on 34 counts of forging business records in May 2024. The controversial cover quickly went viral on social media, with many people criticising it while others applauding it. 'Scotland falls under UK law…. So the UK welcomes criminals, rapists and pedos,' a Trump supporter said. 'Beautiful! Don't let the angry fascists discourage you from printing facts,' a user commented, supporting the newspaper. Donald Trump was convicted on all charges related to a business fraud case in New York in May 2024. Prosecutors said the Republican leader had masked payments to his former lawyer Michael Cohen who paid $130,000 in suspected hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels. It was alleged Trump masked these payments as legal fees, violating law. Trump is also charged in Florida for illegally storing classified documents in his mansion even after leaving office as President in 2020. He has denied the charges. The US President is also accused of trying to reverse the 2020 election outcome with false allegations of a fraud and making attempts to prevent peaceful power transfer with the January 6 Capitol attack. Donald Trump told reporters upon his arrival that he will visit his two golf properties in Scotland. Trump will be in Scotland until Tuesday, and plans to talk trade with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Arriving on UK soil late Friday, Trump confirmed he would meet the head of the European Commission, which has been negotiating with Washington on behalf of the 27-nation bloc. "I'll be meeting with the EU on Sunday, and we'll be working on a deal," he told reporters as he touched down at Prestwick Airport near Glasgow. "Ursula will be here -- a highly respected woman. So we look forward to that," Trump said.
Mint
36 minutes ago
- Mint
EU-US Trade Agreement Now Hinges Mostly on Trump's Verdict
After months of intensive talks and shuttle diplomacy, a trade agreement between the European Union and the US now rests mostly on Donald Trump. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Scotland to meet the US president on Sunday, as the two sides aim to conclude a deal ahead of Friday's deadline, at which point 30% tariffs on the bloc's exports to the US are otherwise due to kick in. 'Intensive negotiations at technical and political have been ongoing,' said Paula Pinho, von der Leyen's spokesperson. 'Leaders will now take stock and consider the scope for a balanced outcome that provides stability and predictability for businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.' EU officials have repeatedly cautioned that a deal ultimately rests with Trump, making the final outcome difficult to predict. The US president recently negotiated with Japan and appeared to change certain final terms on the fly before a deal was eventually agreed earlier this week. The EU and US have been zeroing in on an agreement over the past week that would see the EU face 15% tariffs on most of its trade with the US. Limited exemptions are expected for aviation, some medical devices and generic medicines, several spirits, and a specific set of manufacturing equipment that the US needs, Bloomberg previously reported. Steel and aluminum imports would likely benefit from a quota under the arrangements under discussion, but above that threshold they would face a higher tariff of 50%. Alongside a universal levy, the US president has hit cars and auto parts with a 25% levy, and steel and aluminum with double that. He's also threatened to target pharmaceuticals and semiconductors with new duties as early as next month, and recently announced a 50% tariff on copper. The EU is expecting the same 15% ceiling on some sectors that could be the target of future tariffs, including pharmaceuticals, according to people familiar with the matter. But that's one of the key points where Trump's position will be crucial to a deal being sealed, the people added. 'We'll see if we make a deal,' Trump said as he arrived in Scotland on Friday. 'Ursula will be here, highly respected woman. So we look forward to that.' Trump reiterated that he believed there's 'a 50-50 chance' of a deal with the EU, saying there were sticking points on 'maybe 20 different things' that he didn't want to detail publicly. 'That would be actually the biggest deal of them all if we make it,' the president said. Trump gave similar chances of an agreement with European negotiators before leaving Washington, but also said the EU had a 'pretty good chance' of reaching an agreement. The US president announced tariffs on almost all US trading partners in April, declaring his intent to bring back domestic manufacturing, pay for a massive tax-cut extension, and stop the rest of the world from — as Trump has characterized it — taking advantage of the US. In addition to levies, any agreement would cover non-tariff barriers, cooperation on economic security matters, and strategic purchases by the EU in sectors such as energy and artificial intelligence chips, Bloomberg previously reported. The bloc has also offered to remove tariffs on many industrial goods and non-sensitive agricultural imports. The terms of any initial deal, which is likely to take the form of a short joint statement if agreed upon, would need to be approved by member states, some of the people said. The statement would be seen as a stepping stone toward more detailed talks. Because of the ongoing uncertainty, the EU has in parallel sketched out countermeasures in the event of a no-deal scenario. That would see it quickly hit American exports with up to 30% tariffs on some €100 billion worth of goods — including Boeing Co. aircraft, US-made cars and bourbon whiskey — in the event of a no-deal, and if Trump carries through with his threat to impose that rate on most of the bloc's exports after Aug. 1 or in future. The package also includes some export restrictions on scrap metals. In a no-deal scenario, the bloc is also prepared to move forward with its anti-coercion instrument, a potent trade tool that would eventually allow it to target other areas such as market access, services and restrictions on public contracts, provided a majority of member states backs its use. While Trump didn't explicitly link negotiations to non-trade matters on Friday, he did suggest that he planned to raise concerns over migration flows. Trump has imposed strict anti-immigration policies since returning to office, carrying out a mass deportation effort of those in the US illegally while also narrowing pathways to legally move to the US. 'You got to stop this horrible invasion that's happening to Europe, many countries in Europe,' Trump said, adding that he believed 'this immigration is killing Europe.' With assistance from Josh Wingrove. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
