Universities are making graduate fellowships, assistantships and other scholarship programs intended for minorities available to non-minority students because of heightened pressure from Washington to give equal consideration to all students.

The Center for Equal Opportunity filed a complaint with the Department of Justice against the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale for programs allegedly discriminating against men and non-minorities.

The three programs in question were the Graduate Dean’s Fellowship, Prompt Fellowship and Bridge to the Doctorate, a federally funded program granting $30,000 to minority graduates studying science and math.

David Gross, governmental relations assistant to the president of Southern Illinois University, said the difference between this case and Supreme Court’s decision in 2003 allowing the use of racial preferences in the admission process at the University of Michigan was that it was a case of employment rather than admission.

The center filed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, religion, gender, sex or natural origin.

The University of Illinois is also looking into its graduate fellowships and scholarships to determine if adjustments need to be made.

“It makes good sense that academic institutions are looking carefully at their programs not only from a legal standpoint but from a question of fairness to determine changes,” said Larry Mann, executive assistant vice president for academic affairs at the University.

He said President B. Joseph White asked chancellors on each campus – Chicago, Springfield and Urbana-Champaign -to designate a study group to determine what, if any, modifications should be made. The issue was raised about nine months ago and a review is underway, but it will be months before conclusions are reached.

“Fellowships at Southern Illinois were not just preferential, they were racially exclusive,” said Roger Clegg, president of the Center for Equal Opportunity. “Students were not even considered unless they belonged to the correct racial and ethnic groups. Students should be treated as individuals, not as members of racial groups.”

It’s possible to have programs that are open to everyone but preferential on basis of race, ethnicity or sex, Clegg said. Preference is still discrimination, but it may or may not be illegal.

Under the two-year consent decree with the Department of Justice, Southern Illinois is required to provide the department with information on its assistantships and fellowships programs as well as the demographics of selected students, Gross said. Two committees have been formed at Southern Illinois Carbondale and School of Medicine campuses to re-examine its programs.

“President (Glenn) Poshard is committed to building diversity on campus,” Gross said. “We’re going to be looking at all graduate programs to make sure they all have equal opportunity, and that we are not discriminating against anyone in any benign way.”

Southern Illinois also discussed the issue with different constituency groups, he said.

David Miller, Illinois State Rep., (D-29), said students currently in the programs will not be penalized and will be allowed to finish their studies, but this is an opportunity to evaluate all programs.

“Once students understand the full ramifications, I will look to them for advice,” Miller said. “It’s a chance to get a feedback on their opinions. A diverse body is a good student body.”

Gross predicted more resources would be made available to attract more students of color, an under-served population, into graduate programs in the future. Universities have the right to seek diversity within the law, he said.

“We applaud the universities that are changing these programs,” Clegg said. “So far there is evidence the changes are being made in good faith.”