McDonald’s No Longer Requires Hispanic Heritage for Hispanic College Scholarships
McDonald’s Settles Lawsuit, Adapts HACER Scholarship Program
To settle a conservative group’s discrimination lawsuit, McDonald’s said it will no longer require Hispanic heritage for students who apply to its decades-old Hispanic college scholarship program.
A Lawsuit and a Shift in Diversity Goals
American Alliance for Equal Rights filed a lawsuit in January in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee against McDonald’s and the International Scholarship and Tuition Services, the Nashville-based company that administers the fast food chain’s HACER scholarships.
The lawsuit said the Chicago-based fast food giant discriminated against non-Hispanics by not making its HACER scholarship available to everyone. That same month, McDonald’s announced it would roll back its diversity goals, joining other major companies like Moline-based John Deere and Walmart.
Settlement and Program Changes
McDonald’s on Friday said it disagreed with AAER’s claim but will settle the lawsuit. There was no financial exchange as part of the settlement, nor any admission of wrongdoing by McDonald’s, according to the company.
McDonald’s “will remove the criteria for at least one parent to be of Hispanic/Latino heritage,” it said in a statement. “Instead, applicants must demonstrate their impact and contribution to the Hispanic/Latino community through their activities, leadership, and service.”
Impact on Recipients and the Program
AAER’s legal challenge would have placed 2025 applications and scholarships on hold. McDonald’s said “settling this lawsuit and evolving the program is the right thing to do for its recipients.”
During a virtual media briefing on Friday, a McDonald’s spokesperson said, “There are kids counting on this money now.”
Background and Context
AAER President Edward Blum previously formed Students for Fair Admissions, which filed lawsuits that led to the U.S. Supreme Court ending affirmative action in college admissions.
McDonald’s announcement comes a week after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to eliminate federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, which he and conservatives have said are discriminatory.
Program Statistics and Future Plans
More than 3,000 students had applied so far for this year’s HACER scholarship. The original Feb. 6 deadline will be extended to Mar. 6 to accommodate the change in application criteria. Scholarship winners will be announced this spring.
The HACER program, started in 1985, previously awarded 30 college scholarships worth up to $100,000 each year to students with at least one parent of Hispanic/Latino heritage, among other criteria.
Conclusion
McDonald’s decision to adapt its HACER scholarship program comes as a response to a discrimination lawsuit and a shift in its diversity goals. By removing the requirement for Hispanic heritage, the company aims to create a more inclusive program that recognizes students’ contributions to the Hispanic/Latino community. This change may have a positive impact on the lives of students who were previously excluded from the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
* Q: What is the HACER scholarship program?
A: The HACER scholarship program is a decades-old program started by McDonald’s to provide college scholarships to students with at least one parent of Hispanic/Latino heritage.
* Q: What changes has McDonald’s made to the HACER scholarship program?
A: McDonald’s will no longer require Hispanic heritage for students who apply to the program. Instead, applicants must demonstrate their impact and contribution to the Hispanic/Latino community.
* Q: How many students have applied to the HACER scholarship program so far?
A: More than 3,000 students have applied to the program so far for this year.
* Q: When will scholarship winners be announced?
A: Scholarship winners will be announced this spring.
