State relents, gives scholarship to student majoring in religious studies

By The Associated Press

01.27.03

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A state scholarship program decided to give funds to a college student who is majoring in religious studies, reversing a stance against financial aid for such programs.

The decision followed a federal lawsuit filed in December by the American Center for Law and Justice on behalf of Michael Woods Nash. The center, founded by televangelist Pat Robertson, agreed to drop the suit following the revision.

The center sued after the Cumberland College junior learned in October that he would lose his scholarship funding because he had declared philosophy and religion as his major.

The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority has cited a state Constitution limit on using public funds for sectarian purposes.

Last week, the state agency notified the Williamsburg college that Nash and any other student in the same course of study would be eligible for the scholarship funds.

"The basis upon which he was denied the funds did not hold up upon further examination," said Joe McCormick, executive director of the agency.

He said there was not a policy change.

"It's just a re-examination of the course of study that he is in fact enrolled in," McCormick said.

However, a letter from McCormick to Cumberland College President James Taylor said his agency would be "notifying schools of our revised guidance regarding which majors are eligible" to receive state scholarship funding.

According to the college's Web site, the Department of Religion and Philosophy trains students interested in church-related ministry, with courses in biblical studies and languages, as well as philosophy.

In his first two years of study, Nash received $2,900 from his Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship. The lottery-funded scholarships reward high school students for good grades and college-board scores.

Francis J. Manion, senior counsel for the law center, said he was pleased the state had removed "discriminatory barriers."

"It is encouraging that the state is moving to ensure that students who study religion are treated equally when it comes to the distribution of state scholarship funds," Manion said.

Previous

Student studying religion sues state after scholarship funds cut off
His attorney says Kentucky is 'systematically discriminating' by denying money to students wanting to obtain degrees in religious studies.  12.09.02

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