Eight scholarships at the University of Toledo are under federal scrutiny after a civil rights complaint filed by the Equal Protection Project (EPP) on September 16. The complaint accuses the public university of unlawful discrimination by offering scholarships limited by sex and race in violation of Title IX, Title VI, and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Seven scholarships explicitly favor female students, while one is restricted to minority applicants.
The complaint, submitted to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, argues that the scholarships unlawfully exclude students based on protected categories. The university’s automatic awarding of these funds—based on application data like race, sex, or ethnicity—constitutes illegal discrimination under federal law. Because the University of Toledo is a publicly funded institution, the programs also face constitutional challenges under the Fourteenth Amendment.
Scholarships challenged in the complaint include the Dr. Mary Louise Glen Scholarship, limited to female students in Women’s & Gender Studies; the Irene Ambers Hill Scholarship for female education students; and the Georgina Miranda Bentley Scholarship for women raising children. The Patricia Hanf Memorial Scholarship targets female accounting majors, while the Dr. Daniel Neusom Memorial Scholarship excludes non-minority applicants entirely.
Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational institutions receiving federal funds. Title VI bars discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in similar contexts. The Equal Protection Project argues that these scholarships violate both statutes and constitutional protections, even when labeled as preferences. The group emphasizes that such programs would be illegal if reversed—i.e., reserved only for men or whites—highlighting the double standard at play.
The University of Toledo has responded by stating it has not yet received formal communication from the Department of Education but is reviewing scholarship agreements to ensure compliance. The Equal Protection Project is urging the Department to open a full investigation and take enforcement action if violations are confirmed.
