Foundation Cuts off Scholarships Due to Athletic Scandals

Article, Chronicle for Higher Education, March 25, 2005

The Clemens Foundation recently cut its funding for approximately 125 scholarships given out at Oregon State University. The foundation cited the university's recent athletic scandals and record of bad behavior by its athletes as some of the reasons for their decision. Officially, the Clemens Foundation said they had "serious issues about the quality of education at OSU, ranging from a shift in academic purpose to a declining moral ethic."

This funding cut affects many students who are not associated with OSU athletics. Many of these students had no record of bad behavior and are merely taking the fall for the actions of a few. Their scholarship funding is slated to be cut off before the beginning of the next semester.

The particular grants given by the Clemens Foundation can be used at other Oregon colleges, but cannot exceed OSU tuition. One of the few alternatives to students who rely on this funding is to transfer to another institution.