Duke University Replaces Scholarship Program for Black Students with New Leadership Initiative

Duke University has discontinued its Reginaldo Howard Memorial Scholarship Program, which historically provided full-ride scholarships to outstanding African descent applicants. This change follows the Supreme Court’s decision last year against race-based affirmative action in college admissions. Instead, Duke introduces the Reginaldo Howard Leadership Program, accessible to all undergraduates regardless of race, focusing on fostering leadership and academic excellence. This new initiative will replace the financial backing previously allocated to the scholarship.

Established in 1979 to honor Duke’s first Black student government president, Reginaldo “Reggie” Howard, the original scholarship supported 15 to 20 Black students annually. It covered full tuition, room, board, and provided funds for independent research and learning opportunities both domestically and internationally. Although the scholarship will cease, current recipients, known as Reggie Scholars, will continue to receive support. However, future classes, starting from the Class of 2028, will not receive this scholarship.

The university explained that the change reflects adjustments necessitated by the evolving legal standards regarding race in higher education. This has caused concern among students who valued the scholarship for the opportunities and community it fostered. Students express a strong desire to preserve Reggie Howard’s impactful legacy at Duke, emphasizing his significance not just to specific student groups but to the entire university history.