Under the directive of President Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights issued a “Dear Colleague” letter Feb. 14 to all educational institutions in the country receiving federal funding, which includes public K-12 schools and higher education institutions, demanding that all federally-funded institutions cease and eliminate any race-related programs.
The directive includes but is not limited to scholarships, administrative support and admissions processes, and gave institutions within 14 days of receiving the letter to comply or face federal investigation and loss of funding.
“Although some programs may appear neutral on their face, a closer look reveals that they are, in fact, motivated by racial considerations,” the letter reads. “And race-based decision-making, no matter the form, remains impermissible.” The letter added that the department intends on “vigorously” enforcing the law, and advised all institutions receiving federal funding to ensure their actions are in compliance.
As of Feb. 27, Northeastern’s “Navigating a New Political Landscape” FAQ page, which addresses how Northeastern is adapting to the new administration, has not specifically addressed the potential cuts that could result from the “Dear Colleague” letter.
“We continue to review the directives coming from the new administration and evaluate potential impacts on the university and our community,” Renata Nyul, Northeastern’s vice president for communications, wrote in a statement to The Huntington News.
The university could be impacted by this directive in a number of ways, across a variety of programs. The News compiled a list of programs that may be at risk of shutdown or alteration under the terms of the Feb. 14 letter.
If you have any further information on programs that may be impacted by the Trump administration, email [email protected]. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
Scholarships
Most of the scholarship opportunities identified by The News intended for students of a particular racial identity are provided and operated by private organizations unaffiliated with Northeastern, and would thus be unlikely to be affected by federal directives. The university-funded scholarships that could be impacted include:
- LaCLA Scholarship
- The La Comunidad Latina en Acción, or LaCLA, Scholarship is a tuition-only scholarship established to increase retention of Latinx students at Northeastern and is awarded to eight students each year.
- National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME)
- NACME is a worldwide organization that provides scholarship opportunities for highly talented undergraduate engineering students from historically underrepresented populations (Black/African Americans, Latinx/Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans). Northeastern became a partner of the program in 2020 and is the only NACME university partner in Massachusetts.
Programs
- Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program
- The GMS Program provides financial support for Black, Native American/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American and Hispanic American students who demonstrate financial need and academic success. Northeastern participates in the GMS Program to support students and follow the policies and procedures set forth by the Gates Millennium Scholars Program.
- College of Engineering: Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
- The Northeast LSAMP program provides STEM students access to graduate school workshops, poster presentations and research opportunities, both in the U.S. and abroad. Research is directed and sponsored by STEM faculty, who serve as mentors for the participating students.
- Summer Bridge Scholars Program
- The 20-year-old Summer Bridge Program is a pre-enrollment program focusing on supporting U.S.-based first-years from underserved communities on the Boston campus. The program helps populations such as first-generation students, students joining from under-resourced schools, or from lower socioeconomic statuses. It aims to help students build a foundation within their college, connect with peers and provide pathways toward goal achievement.
- Russell Women in Science Leadership
- A program that seeks to provide opportunities for women and non-binary individuals, particularly those who identify as BIPOC and/or first-generation college students, to pursue academic achievement in STEM fields through faculty-mentored research experiences.
- Inspired Leader Fellowship
- A professional development program in which women/gender-diverse participants shadow leaders at their workplace, receive coaching and work with a cohort to solve problems related to gender/racial equity.
- The Office of Belonging at Northeastern
- Belonging at Northeastern places an emphasis on the strength found in the various backgrounds present within the university. It offers trainings, workshops, access to affinity groups, information on best practices regarding belonging and utilizing data to decide how to direct resources and work done. However, it does not share any data relating to racial demographics at Northeastern; such reports were conducted by and housed on the website of the Department of Diversity, Equity and Acceptance, which has since been scrubbed and replaced by the Belonging at Northeastern website.
University-run campus groups
- Black Athlete Caucus
- An organization created to represent the voice of Black student-athletes at Northeastern and encourage diversity and positive change in Northeastern Athletics.
- Asian American Center
- A resource for Asian American students at Northeastern to share their experiences in a safe, supportive space.
- Latinx Student Cultural Center
- A community of Latinx students, faculty, alumni, friends and parents of Northeastern, primarily intended to foster academic achievement for students but also aimed at providing an inclusive space at Northeastern.
- Center for Intercultural Engagement
- A “justice-oriented and welcoming space” for students from historically marginalized communities, including undocumented, first-generation and low-income backgrounds. It seeks to host events and programs to build access to resources and explore intersectional identities through a social justice lens.
It is unclear what impact the Dear Colleague directive would have on student-run groups — of which Northeastern has more than 500 — related to race.
