EXCLUSIVE — The University of Colorado School of Medicine has agreed to revise its scholarship policies after facing a lawsuit over discriminatory, race-based eligibility requirements.

The lawsuit, filed by medical watchdog group Do No Harm (DNH) in December 2024, alleged that the school’s “Underrepresented Minority Visiting Elective Scholarship” unlawfully excluded white and Asian American applicants despite the Supreme Court‘s 2023 precedent that set forth a wave of national litigation against education policies that discriminate on the basis of race.

The $2,000 scholarship, offered through the school’s Radiation Oncology Department, was previously restricted to students from groups “historically underrepresented in medicine,” according to its eligibility criteria. On Thursday, the university announced it would eliminate racial requirements for the scholarship and rename it the “Radiation Oncology Visiting Elective Scholarship.”

“We are pleased that University of Colorado eliminated the racial requirement for this scholarship,” said Stanley Goldfarb, MD, Chairman of DNH. “Racial discrimination is immoral and has no place in medical education. Medical scholarships should go to the most qualified candidate based on merit, not race.” 

The revised scholarship terms provide up to $2,000 to cover lodging, travel, and related expenses for a four-week elective rotation. Eligibility criteria include enrollment in an accredited medical school, good academic standing, and submission of a statement of interest detailing the applicant’s commitment to serving underserved populations.

The case was dismissed, and both parties agreed to bear their own legal fees and costs, according to the joint stipulation of dismissal.

The lawsuit leaned on the 2023 Supreme Court decision that struck down race-based admissions practices in higher education, known as Students For Fair Admissions v. Harvard/ UNC.

Since that ruling, challenges to similar race-based scholarships have surfaced across the country, and the return of President Donald Trump to the Oval Office has seen even greater changes at the executive level to address diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that have been under scrutiny for similar discriminatory qualities.

In January, Trump signed an executive order titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” which mandates the termination of DEI initiatives across federal agencies. This order directs agencies to dismantle DEI offices, cease related training, and remove DEI content from official websites. The administration has also instructed that all DEI staff be placed on paid leave, with plans for eventual layoffs.  

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The impact of this policy shift is being felt across various sectors, including education, where institutions are reassessing their DEI commitments in response to the new federal directives.

The Washington Examiner contacted a spokesperson for the university’s medical center.