The University of Nebraska Board of Regents on April 11 approved revisions to system bylaws and to the university's equal-opportunity and related policies, voting to implement language the administration said responds to recent federal guidance on campus affirmative‑action and related practices.

The board's action included amendments to section 1.1 of the bylaws and multiple policy changes grouped in agenda items numbered 12.c.1 through 12.c.4. President Jeff Gold and board staff said the updates align system governance and clarify the university's administrative structure and hiring and admissions practices.

The measures drew extended public comment before the votes. Graduate student and higher‑education researcher Stephanie Bondi told the regents the proposed removals of phrases such as “race,” “ethnicity” and “gender identity” from bylaws and policies risked damaging retention and graduation rates for minoritized students and could increase harassment and violence toward them. “When we don't have programs and policies that explicitly reflect who our students are and say that we will protect them, student success goes down,” Bondi said during the public‑comment period. Associate Professor Crystal Garcia and several students echoed that view, delivering postcards and written statements the board received prior to the meeting.

Regents debated the legality and risk posed by federal directives and whether delaying action would protect federal funding. Regent Jim Clare argued voting to adopt the changes was necessary to avoid possible penalties under recent executive guidance. Other regents and student regents said the revisions were more than semantics and expressed concern about longer‑term effects on campus climate and services for underrepresented students.

The board approved the package of bylaw and policy changes in roll‑call votes. On the key equal‑opportunity policy amendments (agenda item 12.c.4), the motion passed with a majority after extended discussion; several regents voted no or abstained during other related votes. The board also approved a separate amendment revising parental/maternal/paternal leave language to a single parental‑leave policy (12.c.3).

President Gold and board staff said the system will undertake implementation steps and that additional bylaw chapters remain under review for a future meeting. The board noted that separate, more extensive updates to chapters 1–3 will come back for a June vote and that the administration would provide supporting materials for campuses and employees.

The board acknowledged student and faculty concerns and several regents urged prompt, clear training and communication to campus personnel about the changes, though a motion to add mandatory annual training to the policy language was debated and later defeated.

The changes take immediate effect as board policy; the administration said it will provide campuses with explanatory materials. The board did not hold the closed session it had proposed later in the agenda.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the package of bylaw and policy revisions (12.c.1–12.c.4) after public comment and internal debate. Several regents spoke against particular changes and multiple student regents registered “no” votes on some items.

Why this matters: The changes respond to federal directives affecting federal contractors and could alter how the university recruits, supports and documents services for students and employees. Campus leaders and many students said they fear the changes will reduce programmatic support and harm student outcomes; the board said the action is intended to protect university access to federal funding while preserving nondiscriminatory hiring and admissions processes.

What’s next: The administration will circulate clarifying guidance to campuses and bring remaining bylaw chapters for review in June, the board said.