Music scholarships could be restored at Alcorn State University

Black Issues in Higher Education, Sept 9, 2004

POINT CLEAR, ALA.

The state College Board has agreed to work with Alcorn State University to ensure music scholarship commitments are fully honored.

The board made its decision at its retreat at the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort in Point Clear, Ala., days after Alcorn State President Clinton Bristow Jr. said 71 students would have their music scholarships reduced in a move to help deal with what school officials are calling a budget shortfall.

"I'm pleased that the board understands our dilemma and they've given us the authority to do something a little different here," Bristow said after learning that Higher Education Commissioner David Potter will work with Alcorn State to help solve the dilemma.

Bristow said the university would save nearly $400,000 by reducing the scholarships. Some of the money would go toward a program to help students get into medical and law schools, he said.

The affected students have full and partial vocal, instrumental and band scholarships.

Bristow said the university awarded the scholarships before it received its final budget.

Before the College Board met behind closed doors, board member Bettye Henderson Neely said she was alarmed when she heard about the scholarship situation. "It looks bad for our institutions to issue scholarships and at the last moment rescind those scholarships," Neely said.

Board member Aubrey Patterson said whether Alcorn made an oral or written commitment to award the scholarships, "we've got a moral obligation."

--Associated Press