UAB Cancels Scholarship for Black Medical Students

News Summary

The University of Alabama at Birmingham has canceled the Herschell Lee Hamilton, M.D., Endowed Scholarship aimed at supporting black medical students. This decision was influenced by a federal investigation concerning the legality of race-based scholarships. UAB plans to return the original funds to donors, which has sparked significant backlash from supporters of the scholarship, who see it as a betrayal of Dr. Hamilton’s legacy and an infringement on opportunities for deserving black medical students. The future of minority scholarships at UAB amidst changing regulations remains uncertain.

Birmingham, Alabama – The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has officially canceled the Herschell Lee Hamilton, M.D., Endowed Scholarship in Medicine, which was specifically intended for black medical students. This decision comes in response to a federal investigation initiated by the Trump administration’s Department of Education concerning the legality of race-based scholarships. UAB communicated the cancellation and the plans to return scholarship funds to the original donors in a letter dated April 11, 2025.

The Herschell Lee Hamilton scholarship was established in 2013 with the goal of supporting black medical students. Eligibility required students to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate financial need. However, UAB indicated that it was unable to amend the scholarship criteria to align with federal regulations, as advised by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. This investigation not only involves UAB but also other colleges facing similar scrutiny over the legality of their race-based funding.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has stressed the government’s commitment to preventing discrimination based on race, asserting that funding should be allocated based on merit rather than racial background. The cancellation of the Hamilton scholarship has drawn significant backlash, particularly from those who feel it undermines efforts to support deserving black medical students.

The litigation leading to the cancellation was driven by the Equal Protection Project, a conservative organization focused on ending race-based affirmative action policies. This group specifically targeted the Hamilton scholarship as an example of what it perceives as discriminatory funding practices.

Critics of UAB’s decision, including family members of Dr. Herschell Lee Hamilton, who was the namesake of the scholarship, regard this action as a betrayal of the intent behind the scholarship. Dr. Hamilton was a revered figure in Birmingham’s medical and civil rights communities, with a legacy that includes treating individuals during pivotal historical events like the 1963 Children’s Crusade.

Scholarship Landscape at UAB

The cancellation of the Hamilton scholarship is just one aspect of a broader trend, as UAB’s scholarship programs face increasing scrutiny amid shifting federal directives aimed at reducing diversity initiatives. Nonetheless, other scholarships aimed at supporting minority students remain unaffected at Alabama universities, such as the State Doctoral Scholars Program and the William Randolph Hearst Foundation 1st Generation Scholars Fund, which continues to support minority public health students at UAB.

Impact on Alabama’s Healthcare Workforce

Concerns are emerging regarding the potential implications that the cancellation of minority scholarships could have on Alabama’s healthcare workforce, particularly in underserved areas. Influential voices, including Dr. Brian Stone, chief of staff at Walker Baptist Hospital, have noted that reducing scholarship opportunities may discourage future healthcare professionals from pursuing careers in critical areas of need.

Future Uncertainties

The broader implications of compliance reviews and future scholarship funding at UAB and other state universities remain uncertain. As institutions adapt to changing regulations, the fate of additional financial aid programs could be at risk, which raises questions about equitable access to education for minority students in the future.

Overall, the cancellation of the Herschell Lee Hamilton scholarship represents a significant shift in how UAB and potentially other institutions manage scholarship funding in the context of federal scrutiny over race-based initiatives. Many stakeholders will be watching closely to see how these changes affect the landscape of medical education and the accessibility of these programs moving forward.