Following a legal dispute, McDonald’s announced revisions to the eligibility requirements of its longstanding Latino student scholarship program.
Since 1985, the company’s Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources (HACER) National Scholarship Program has awarded over $33 million to Hispanic and Latino students nationwide, providing scholarships for up to 30 students each year. The program offers financial aid up to $100,000, with students selected based on academic performance, community involvement, personal statement, and financial need.
The American Alliance for Equal Rights, a group that opposes race-based programs, filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s on January 12, challenging the HACER program. On Friday, McDonald’s revealed that as part of the settlement, the program will now be open to any student who can demonstrate a meaningful commitment to the Latino community, removing the previous requirement for parental heritage.
McDonald’s also extended the application deadline from February 6 to March 6 to accommodate new applicants. The company indicated that more than 3,000 students have already submitted applications for the upcoming scholarships.
The change is part of McDonald’s broader reevaluation of its diversity initiatives. The company has also retired specific diversity goals for senior leadership and ended a program in January that encouraged suppliers to increase minority representation in their leadership ranks.
