Many universities across the country are opening all scholarships and financial aid previously offered to only minority students to all students regardless of race.
However, this trend has already been a longtime Penn State practice.
Previously, many universities offered a variety of programs and scholarships that were racially exclusive.
However, after a request from the Center for Equal Opportunity, these universities are now opening up their programs to all eligible students, said Roger Clegg, president and general counsel of the Center for Equal Opportunity.
"The fact is that no student should be told that he or she is barred from participating in a program simply because of their racial ethnicity," Clegg said. "Our position has always been that this is illegal."
Students are supposed to be given individual consideration for all scholarships and financial aid, but this cannot be done if a student cannot apply because of his or her race, Clegg said.
A majority of these universities, including Southern Illinois University and the State University of New York, agreed that there were some legal problems with these race-specific programs, and they are now opening these programs to all qualified students, Clegg said.
"I believe that if the goal is to offer opportunities and help disadvantaged students then it should help all disadvantaged students, not just one particular race," Clegg said.
The practice of evaluating all students regardless of race has always been in existence at Penn State, said Jocelyn Bennett, director of scholarships and special programs.
"All of our awards are need-based, so we look at all candidates for the award," Bennett said.
There are some private scholarships that the donor can establish with a preference and indicate whom they would like to give priority for the award; but regardless, all students will still be considered for that scholarship, Bennett said.
"The awarding that we do from the Penn State office has always been based on need according to the application of financial aid," Bennett said. "This is the identifying criteria that we have always used."
However, Anurima Bhargava, assistant counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said in an e-mail message that there are definite disparities between the recruitment and retention of minority students when compared to that of nonminority students.
"Financial aid programs geared toward minority students are an important tool to ensure access and promote diversity for all students," Bhargava said in the e-mail message. "We can't afford to take these tools off the table."
