In the wake of the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that brought an end to affirmative action in college admissions, Duke University has officially discontinued its Reginaldo Howard Memorial Scholarship Program. Established in 1979, this scholarship had been a vital support system for Black undergraduates, many of whom required financial assistance. The scholarship provided full tuition coverage, as well as room and board, for those selected.
The decision to end this long-standing program marks a significant shift in Duke’s approach to fostering diversity on campus. Speaking to The Chronicle, Duke’s student publication, Mya Harris, a current junior and recipient of the scholarship, expressed her disappointment. “It is very much disheartening to hear that this program that opened the door for me to come to Duke is now being closed essentially, even though it will take on a new form,” Harris said.
The scholarship was named in honor of Reginaldo “Reggie” Howard, Duke’s first Black student government president, who tragically died in a car accident in 1976 during his sophomore year. Since its inception, the scholarship honored Howard’s legacy by supporting Black students in their pursuit of academic excellence.
While the Reginaldo Howard Memorial Scholarship will no longer exist in its original form, the university has announced the creation of the Reginaldo Howard Leadership Program. Unlike its predecessor, the new program will be open to all undergraduate students, regardless of race. This shift, as explained by Duke’s administration, reflects legal changes stemming from the Supreme Court’s ruling.
According to Candis Watts Smith, vice provost for undergraduate education, the new program will still work to support Black academic excellence and leadership on campus. “The Reginaldo Howard Leadership Program will honor Reggie Howard’s legacy by supporting Black academic excellence, intellectual community, and leadership on campus through an intentionally designed series of engagement opportunities,” Smith wrote in an email to current Reggie Scholars and alumni.
However, the new leadership program will not include a competitive selection process, and this change has raised concerns among current scholars. Each year, 15 to 20 Black students had previously been selected as Reggie Scholars, and the sudden termination of the scholarship has left many feeling sidelined. “We were just kind of told what was happening as it was happening,” said Hanna Gedion, a sophomore at Duke. “We felt very powerless, to be honest with you.”
Despite their disappointment, many Reggie Scholars were not entirely surprised by the decision, given the legal environment following the Supreme Court’s ruling. As universities across the nation have started pulling back initiatives that focus on underserved communities, Duke’s move seems to be in line with a larger trend. “We’re all frustrated obviously, but we’ve been expecting it for a while, and looking for next steps already,” Gedion shared. She emphasized the scholars’ determination to preserve Reginaldo Howard’s legacy on campus.
The philanthropic funding that had been dedicated to the Reggie Scholarship will now be redirected to the Reginaldo Howard Leadership Program, ensuring that Howard’s memory continues to inspire future generations, even as the structure of the program changes. As Duke moves forward, the challenge remains to continue promoting diversity and inclusion while navigating the evolving legal landscape in higher education.
