The American Chemical Society has agreed to replace its racially exclusive ACS Scholars Program following a legal challenge that accused the country’s largest chemistry network of violating federal civil rights laws by excluding white and Asian applicants.
The Washington Examiner first reported in March that the nonprofit organization Do No Harm filed a lawsuit on behalf of a high-achieving high school senior, identified as “Member A,” who was barred from applying solely because of her race. Despite a 4.34 GPA, a perfect ACT science score, and top AP Chemistry exam results, the student was ineligible under the program’s criteria, which reserved eligibility for Black, Hispanic, and Native American applicants.
Under a joint stipulation between DNH and ACS filed Wednesday, the chemistry society confirmed it has discontinued all race-based scholarship programs and is developing a new scholarship open to all students, regardless of race or ethnicity.
“If the new program asks applicants to identify their race or ethnicity, that information will not be accessible to anyone with authority over the selection process until after all selections are final,” according to the joint stipulation.
Do No Harm’s lawsuit, filed March 5, alleged that the ACS Scholars Program violated the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Because ACS receives tens of millions of dollars from federal contracts, the group also argued the program violated President Donald Trump’s January executive order barring federal contractors from using racially discriminatory policies.
“We are pleased that the American Chemical Society will stop discriminating based on race in its scholarships,” said Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, chairman of DNH, in a statement. “Allowing identity politics to interfere with merit in medical education is not only a disservice to these future medical professionals, but also the patients they will serve.”
The Washington Examiner previously reported that ACS, a congressionally chartered nonprofit organization with over 155,000 members, defended the program as an effort to promote “diverse scientific leaders,” according to a previous webpage set up for the scholarship application.
The updated scholarship page has replaced all diversity-related language, stating that ACS is “launching a new and expanded undergraduate scholarship program to support student education and build robust leaders in the chemical sciences focused on lifelong learning.”
Do No Harm contended the original scholarship initiative amounted to illegal “racial gatekeeping,” citing the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which struck down race-based college admissions.
As part of the joint stipulation between ACS and DNH, both sides will cover their own legal fees, and the case will be dismissed.
NATION’S TOP CHEMISTRY GROUP SUED OVER RACE-BASED SCHOLARSHIP
Goldfarb emphasized that the resolution sends “a clear message” that racial bias has no place in medicine or education.
The Washington Examiner reached out to ACS for comment.