Duke University’s decision to end full-tuition scholarships for black students is drawing mixed reactions from former scholars.

Duke University’s decision to end a comprehensive scholarship program for black students has received both support and criticism from past recipients of the award.

The university announced earlier this month that the Reginaldo M. Howard Memorial Scholarship would be replaced by the Reginaldo Howard Leadership Program, which “will be open to all Duke undergraduates.”

In an announcement on Duke’s website, the university said it informed current fellows that the transition was necessary “due to the legal landscape related to racial considerations in higher education.”

“We are reinventing the Reginaldo ‘Reggie’ Howard Scholars program to extend the impact of Howard’s legacy to more Duke students committed to leadership and social justice,” the spokesperson said of Duke University, Frank Tramble, in a statement to CNN. “The Reginaldo Howard Leadership Program will enhance the experience of our Black students by enriching their academic connections with faculty, funding internships and research, strengthening community connections, and developing scholarly programs that highlight Black excellence through the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture. .”

Last year, the Supreme Court struck down race-based college admissions.

Craig Vincent, a former Reginaldo Howard Memorial Scholar who graduated in 2016, told CNN on Friday that he was disappointed by the university’s decision to end the scholarship.

The scholarship, Vincent said, was key to attracting talent to the university. He added that academics have become CEOs, authors and earned doctorates.

“It was almost like the university was narrowing down scholarships to the race of the people who attended,” Vincent said. “Where they kind of interpreted that this…was just a scholarship for black students and there was nothing else unique or interesting about the people that made up that pool and they therefore chose to eliminate it. This saddened me a lot.

Wilton Alston, another former scholar who graduated from Duke in 1981, told CNN he initially felt “anger, sadness and loss” that Duke had ended his scholarship , but ultimately decided to support the new leadership program.

“I decided it made sense to give the leadership program a chance and, more importantly, to engage in future plans for developing the program,” Alston said.

The scholarship program targeted “exemplary students of African descent” and paid full tuition, room and board to recipients, according to the now-archived program website.

The scholarship, established in 1979, is named for Duke’s first black student body president, who was killed in a car accident during his sophomore year.

Duke is not the only North Carolina college making changes or reevaluating its diversity programs.

Earlier this week, the University of North Carolina Board of Governors voted to repeal and replace the school’s existing diversity and inclusion policy. The board oversees 16 public universities and one high school in the state.

The new policy – ​​which will go before the full board of trustees for a final vote in May – will emphasize the university’s commitment to “non-discrimination and institutional neutrality,” said Andrew Tripp, senior vice president for university legal affairs and the board of trustees. during a committee meeting.

The Reginaldo M. Howard Memorial Scholars Program has supported 234 students since its inception, Tramble said in the release. Tramble said current students will still receive their scholarship until they graduate from Duke.

“Under this new model, the redefined Reggie Program will support hundreds of students each year through a variety of methods, including need-based financial aid, leadership programs, and more,” Tramble said.

The elimination of the scholarship at Duke also comes as diversity, equity and inclusion programs at colleges, as well as race-based internships and scholarships, are targeted by Republican lawmakers and conservative activists across the country.

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