College Station, Texas – Scholarships Pause Amid Senate Bill 17
Texas A&M University, based in College Station, Texas, has reported a hold on dozens of its scholarships due to non-compliance with Senate Bill 17, also referred to as the ‘DEI ban’. This law requires public universities to close their diversity, equity and inclusion offices, and forbids training and policies deemed to perpetuate DEI practices. As a result, 57 scholarships from Texas A&M are presently waiting for an audit review to determine whether they align with this bill. The scholarships will remain on hold until adjustments to comply with SB 17 mandates.
No Current Impact on Students
University staff has stated that the current suspension will have no immediate consequences for students, as the scholarship funds have not been allocated at this time. Of the delayed scholarships, a significant number had demonstrated a preference for female applicants. However, SB 17 dictates that scholarships provided by the university cannot include or exclude applicants based on criteria including race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.
Renaming and Restructuring Scholarships
The new law also mandates the removal of the term “diversity” from any scholarship title, along with any diversity-related standards and conditions. In an effort to remain compliant and resume the scholarship program, Delisa Falks, Assistant Vice President of the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, announced changes to the gift agreements — the documents outlining the terms of the scholarships.
“We are working to alter the gift agreement to remove any non-compliant language. Our focus is to provide scholarships that are inclusive to all Texas A&M students who wish to apply,” Falks stated.
Feeling the Effects
Despite the fact that SB 17 does not affect scholarships offered by private entities, it has nonetheless had ripple effects. For example, the Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering, an organization providing resources and scholarships to engineers from underrepresented communities, has reported feeling SB 17’s impact. Kiyomi Beach, the group’s interim director, expressed concerns over the organization’s ability to continue leveling the playing field for underrepresented students.
“We’re here because the playing field does not start level. Our goal is to create a level field, helping those individuals who might otherwise opt out of or feel unable to pursue these careers,” Beach said. The organization has had to cut down the number of scholarships they offer due to losing university partners after the passage of SB 17.
Next Steps for Texas A&M Scholarships
Falks assured that after revising the scholarships to align with SB 17 requirements, they would once again become available for students’ benefit. The exact timeline, however, remains uncertain.
