Campbell U Race- and Sex-Based Scholarships Challenged By Equal Protection Project

Campbell U Race- and Sex-Based Scholarships Challenged By Equal Protection Project

The Equal Protection Project (EqualProtect.org) recently reached a milestone — our 100th school, college, or university challenged over DEI discrimination, covering over 400 discriminatory programs and scholarships. So far 2025 has been our busiest and most productive year since launch in February 2023 – we are expanding legal staff and moving both vertically and horizontally in the legal challenges we bring.

The latest is a Civil Rights Complaint filed regarding discriminatory scholarships at Campbell University in North Carolina:

We bring this civil rights complaint against Campbell University (“Campbell”), a private university, for discrimination in seven (7) scholarships based on race, color, national origin, or sex, in violation of Title VI and Title IX, respectively.

Campbell offers multiple types of internal scholarships.2 Many of these are awarded automatically to students who meet the eligibility requirements when they apply. [image omitted]

According to the Campbell website3, the following scholarships are currently active.4 Each violates either Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VI”), 5 or Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), 6 by unlawfully excluding students based on race, color, national origin, and/or sex:

I. SCHOLARSHIP THAT VIOLATES TITLE VI

1. Joe and Ina Whitehead Pharmacy Scholarship
Link: https://campbell.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/Scholarships/Search
Archived Link: https://archive.ph/wip/YEsP9
Discriminatory Requirement: “This scholarship is awarded to students indicating academic ability who are minority students in the School of Pharmacy B.S. and PharmD programs.

II. SCHOLARSHIPS THAT VIOLATE TITLE IX (6)

1. Bessie W. Moss Memorial Endowment
Link: https://campbell.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/Scholarships/Search
Archived Link: https://archive.is/wip/YEsP9
Discriminatory Requirement: “This scholarship is awarded to female students.”

2. Beverly Massey Women in Law Endowment
Link: https://campbell.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/Scholarships/Search
Archived Link: https://archive.is/wip/YEsP9
Discriminatory Requirement: “This scholarship is awarded to female students indicating academic ability and having financial need in the Law School.”

3. GSK Women In Science Pharmacy Endowment
Link: https://campbell.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/Scholarships/Search
Archived Link: https://archive.is/wip/YEsP9
Discriminatory Requirement: “This scholarship is awarded to full-time female undergraduate students pursuing scientific studies.”

4. Jessica N. White Business Endowment
Link: https://campbell.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/Scholarships/Search
Archived Link: https://archive.is/wip/YEsP9
Discriminatory Requirement: “This scholarship is awarded to female students who are Trust majors in the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5.”

5. Nursing Program Faculty/Staff Endowment
Link: https://campbell.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/Scholarships/Search
Archived Link: https://archive.is/wip/YEsP9
Discriminatory Requirement: “This scholarship is awarded to full-time students in the Nursing Program. Preferences: 1) students with demonstrated need; 2) male student, as nurses are predominately female; 3) students from disadvantaged background including first generation to attend college and/or from a rural medically underserved community.”

6. Tucker History Endowment
Link: https://campbell.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/Scholarships/Search
Archived Link: https://archive.is/wip/YEsP9
Discriminatory Requirement: “This scholarship is awarded to full-time students pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in History. Preferences: 1) top two female History students.”

Campus Reform covered the filing:

A recently filed civil rights complaint argues that Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina offers discriminatory scholarships in violation of federal law.

The complaint was filed by the Equal Protection Project on June 17 with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Campus Reform acquired a copy shortly after the filing, which cites seven scholarships on the university’s website that tailor requirements based upon student characteristics such as race or sex.

The Office for Civil Rights ensures that colleges and universities abide by federal civil rights law.

The complaint cites violations of Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments, as well as Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

The scholarships, administered by the university, do not have their own web pages but can be found on the school’s scholarship search page….

The descriptions match those included in the Equal Protection Project’s complaint as of publication.

The organization’s founder, William A. Jacobson, criticized the university for promoting and participating in discriminatory behavior in comments to Campus Reform.

“Aggressive DEI programming must never be permitted to cross the line into unlawful discrimination in violation of the Civil Rights Act,” Jacobson said. “This line, unfortunately, appears to have been breached at Campbell across a range of academic areas.”

“Race and sex discrimination is wrong and unlawful no matter which race or sex is targeted or benefits. All students are entitled to equal treatment without regard to race, color, national origin, or sex,” he continued.

The Equal Protection Project, which describes itself as “devoted to the fair treatment of all persons without regard to race or ethnicity,” has filed many civil rights complaints against universities over race and sex-based scholarships. Two recent complaints include those against Seattle University and the University of Louisville.

The Local NBC News stations also covered the story:

Reminder: we are a small organization going up against powerful and wealthy government and private institutions devoted to DEI discrimination. Donations are greatly needed and appreciated.

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