Civil Rights Complaint Filed Against Kansas Wesleyan University Over NEXT Level Program
A national civil rights organization has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights against Kansas Wesleyan University, alleging that the university’s NEXT Level program discriminates on the basis of race.
The Equal Protection Project filed the complaint Sept. 30, 2026. The organization alleges that KWU’s eligibility criteria for the NEXT Level program violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin in programs receiving federal financial assistance.
According to Kansas Wesleyan’s website, NEXT Level is intended for “historically underserved students” and identifies that population as including first-generation college students, students from low-income backgrounds and students of color. The program provides participants with peer mentors, faculty or staff advisers and other opportunities intended to support student success and retention.
The Equal Protection Project argues that the program’s criteria treat students differently because students of color may qualify based on race, while other students would need to meet a separate first-generation or socioeconomic criterion. The organization has asked the Department of Education to investigate the program and determine whether it complies with federal civil rights law.
The filing is a civil rights complaint requesting federal review, not a court ruling or finding that Kansas Wesleyan violated the law. The Equal Protection Project’s case page states that the Office for Civil Rights is evaluating the complaint for possible further action.
Kansas Wesleyan continues to describe NEXT Level on its website as a student-support program focused on retention and providing historically underserved students with mentoring, relationships and campus connections. The university also lists NEXT Level among several campus initiatives related to belonging and inclusion.
Salina311 has reached out to Kansas Wesleyan University for comment regarding the complaint and will update this story if a response is received.
