Board of Regents reviews potential policy and bylaw changes after Education Department guidance; faculty urge pause

The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska convened a special meeting this morning to review proposed changes to system policies and bylaws prompted by a Department of Education communication dated Feb. 14, 2025, President Gold told the board. "Because of recent communication from the Department of Education ... dated 02/14/2025, we recommended ... that a special meeting be convened to address bylaws and policy changes," Gold said.

The discussion was informational; President Gold recommended that bylaw changes follow the board's two-agenda-cycle rule and that policy changes be reviewed with legal counsel before any vote. Gold said the system leadership and general counsel had reviewed potential edits and presented four policy items for consideration: Regents Policy 3.10.3 (equal opportunity employment), Regents Policy 5.2.0.1 (admission standards), Regents Policy 5.7.0.4 (tuition levels) and Regents Policy 5.8.0.4 (nonresident tuition remission for children of alumni). He urged the board to take time to review, consult stakeholders and consider pending litigation affecting federal guidance.

Why it matters: the Department of Education guidance and recent executive orders…