McDonald’s settles lawsuit over Latino scholarship program, revising eligibility criteria.
At a Glance
- McDonald’s is modifying its HACER National Scholarship Program following a lawsuit
- The requirement for applicants to have at least one Latino or Hispanic parent will be removed
- New criteria focus on applicants’ impact and contribution to the Hispanic/Latino community
- The program has awarded over $33 million to more than 17,000 students since its inception
- Changes come in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action in college admissions
McDonald’s Settles Lawsuit, Revises Scholarship Program
Fast-food giant McDonald’s has agreed to settle a lawsuit challenging its HACER National Scholarship Program, which was specifically designed for Latino students. The company will revise the program’s eligibility criteria, removing the requirement that applicants have at least one Latino or Hispanic parent. This decision comes in response to legal action taken by the American Alliance for Equal Rights, an organization that opposes affirmative action policies.
While McDonald’s disagreed with claims of discrimination against non-Hispanic students, the company opted to settle the lawsuit and “evolve” the scholarship program. The settlement ensures that this year’s applicants, numbering over 3,000, will still be eligible to receive awards. The revision of the HACER program reflects a broader trend of companies reassessing their diversity initiatives following a recent Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action in college admissions.
Under the revised guidelines, applicants will need to demonstrate their impact and contribution to the Hispanic/Latino community, rather than meeting a specific racial or ethnic requirement. So race won’t come into it.
This shift aims to maintain the program’s mission of supporting students who are committed to the advancement of the Latino community while broadening its accessibility.
“In discussions with franchisees, community leaders and organizations, educational leaders, past recipients of HACER, employees and more, we reached the conclusion that settling this lawsuit and evolving the program is the right thing to do for its recipients,” Santiago Negre, Chairman of McDonald’s Hispanic Owner-Operators Association, and Michael Gonda, Chief Impact Officer of North America for McDonald’s said.
The HACER National Scholarship Program has been a significant initiative for McDonald’s, having awarded over $33 million in scholarships to more than 17,000 students since its inception. Company representatives emphasize the program’s importance in creating educational opportunities for Hispanic students pursuing higher education.
The revision of the HACER scholarship program is part of a larger trend of corporations reevaluating their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the wake of President Donald Trump’s historic win. McDonald’s has also eliminated some of its DEI goals and supplier targets in response to the changing legal landscape surrounding affirmative action policies.
At this rate, America will be America again by the end of the year.
