The University announced today that it will be revising the criteria it uses to select scholarship recipients for its Ervin Scholars Program, a scholarship program that has been available for African-American students. That program, which honors the legacy of its namesake, John B. Ervin, a nationally renowned educator, will continue to foster a richly diverse educational atmosphere at the University.
The new Ervin Scholars Program, which will continue to seek out students who demonstrate exceptional intellectual and leadership achievements, will be open to all applicants.
Community service accomplishments and the commitment of applicants to meeting the needs of less-fortunate segments of American society also will be important considerations. Special consideration will also be given to applicants interested in a career in education, consistent with the legacy of John B. Ervin.
The new selection factors will go into effect with the selection of Ervin Scholars for the 2005-06 academic year. The changes should not affect current Ervin Scholarships, including Ervin Scholars for the 2004-05 school year, who already have been identified.
“Looking back, we are very proud of the accomplishments we have encouraged through our support of the Ervin Scholars Program,” Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton said. “The students we have attracted to the University as Ervin Scholars have been outstanding and have made important contributions to our community while obtaining a great education.
“Those who have graduated have distinguished themselves as they have taken up graduate or professional degree programs or have started their independent careers. These highly talented and well-educated men and women are enriching our world, and we are grateful to them for their continuing engagement with Washington University as distinguished alumni.
“Our current Ervin Scholars will continue to receive our support and encouragement as they complete their degree programs with us. Looking forward, the successes we have realized with the Ervin Scholars Program reaffirms our conviction that a diverse community is a stronger community. We will continue our efforts to strengthen our quality by recruiting a talented and diverse student body.”
Explaining the reason for the revision, James E. McLeod, vice chancellor for students, noted, “Given the Supreme Court’s decision last year involving the University of Michigan’s undergraduate admissions program and other legal developments, and in light of guidance we have recently received from the Department of Education, we believe it is no longer possible for Washington University to lawfully operate this scholarship program on a race-exclusive basis.
“The law has, in that respect, evolved since 1994, when the Department of Education issued the enforcement policy guidance to which we tried to conform the Ervin Program. As a result, we have confirmed to the government that we will modify the Ervin Scholars Program.”
McLeod, who also is dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, added, “We are confident that the Ervin Scholars Program will remain a nationally pre-eminent program, and one that continues to foster and enhance the overall quality and diversity of the University’s student body in a way that honors the legacy of John B. Ervin.”
In announcing this change, Washington University joins a large number of colleges and universities across the nation, including Harvard, Princeton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, the University of Michigan, Saint Louis University and many others that have said they are revising eligibility guidelines for programs previously open only to minorities.