ANN ARBOR Mich.
The University of Michigan has replaced scholarships eliminated in the wake of a voter-approved ban on preferential treatment based on race and gender at public universities.
The university on Thursday unveiled two scholarships, each providing $10,000 a year for up to four eligible freshman from low-income families: The Michigan Tradition Award is for students from high schools or neighborhoods that traditionally don't have many students attend the school; and the Michigan Experience Award is for students who took part in state or federal college-readiness programs, The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press reported.
The scholarships replace the Scholar Recognition Award and Michigan Scholar Awards, both of which included race among their criteria.
"Typically the change in criteria has moved towards socio-economic status or some other form of underrepresentation, such as being a first-generation college student," Provost Teresa Sullivan told The Ann Arbor News.
Officials also said they have raised $12 million from 3,500 donors for financial aid that will be matched by the university to maintain a diverse campus. The money was raised in eight months.
University officials were forced to change their admissions policies after voters approved Proposal 2 in November. It bans the use of race and gender preferences in university admissions and government hiring and contracting.
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University of Michigan: http://www.umich.edu
- Associated Press
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