Southern Adventist University Faces Loss of $3 Million DHSI Grant After Lawsuit

Southern Adventist University could lose a federal grant of $3 million after a lawsuit challenged the eligibility of its status as a Developing Hispanic-Serving Institution (DHSI), university officials say.

The university has been receiving the grant since 2023 — the largest it has ever received — based on its Hispanic enrollment of about 28%, exceeding the 25% threshold required. The grant helps fund support services, academic changes, and broader efforts to assist underserved students.

Earlier this year, the State of Tennessee and the group Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) filed suit in federal court accusing the U.S. Department of Education's DHSI program of being unconstitutional because it allocates funds based on ethnicity. The Justice Department has declined to defend the program.

Becky Brooks, editorial manager in university relations, said the grant "allows the university to strengthen support services, implement institutional changes, and improve learning opportunities for all students," especially those from underserved backgrounds. She said the grant also helps encourage high school students to pursue STEM fields.

Some departments, like chemistry, face losing specific allocations — $275,000 worth of planned lab equipment and outreach purchases may be in jeopardy, university sources say. A sophomore biology major, Alejandro Robles, said the grant has made a tangible difference, and emphasized that students of all backgrounds benefit. "If it's for everyone, that just means we need it more," he told Southern Accent.