John B. Ervin Scholars Program

In December of 1986, the Washington University Record announced the creation of the John B. Ervin Scholars Program for Black Americans. The article reported that up to 10 full tuition scholarships for talented college bound black high school students had been established in honor of John B. Ervin, a nationally recognized black educator and the first African American Dean at Washington University. The Ervin Scholars Program came about as a result of the University's desire to attract more African American students. The Program reflected the administration's efforts to institute a radical, positive change in minority recruitment. The Ervin Scholars Program was created in the spirit of John Ervin's dedication to providing educational opportunities for minority students as a legacy to him.

Stephanie Lewis, President of Washington University's Association of Black Students in 1986 was instrumental in the conception of the program.

"It began with a conversation Jim McLeod and I were having one day. The University had been focusing on minority recruitment, but there was still a sense that more could be done. Chancellor William Danforth had asked me, as president of ABS, to be thinking about what we could do to enhance our recruiting efforts. During the talk with Jim McLeod, the idea for the Ervin Scholars Program was born. Jim took it from a conversation to making it happen."

The inception and launch of the Ervin Scholars Program was a campus wide effort. Bill Arthur, president of Student Union and Stephanie Lewis, president of the Association of Black Students played an important role in the initial planning of the Program. The Dean from each of the undergraduate schools was extraordinarily supportive, especially considering the Program was unusual at the time. It was the only scholars program at Washington University that applied across the five undergraduate schools. It was one of the first programs, if not the first of its kind in the nation. The Program was launched in the fall of 1986. The intent was that the Program would be in place for the coming school year.

Dorothy Elliott, now Alumni Director of the Ervin Scholars Program was working in the Office of Undergraduate Admission at the time. Mrs. Elliott was especially pleased to be a part of the scholarship initiative having been a former student of John Ervin.

Adrienne Glore, Associate Dean of Student Life, was invited to join Dean McLeod and Mrs. Elliott as administrators of the Program. For 16 years, they operated as a team, under the direction of Dean McLeod with Dorothy Elliott serving as the point person. Mrs. Elliott's enthusiasm for the students was evident as such, by the photo gallery of Ervin Scholars on the walls of her office.

Dean McLeod reflects on the first Ervin Scholars Finalists Weekend, which took place during the school year of 1986-87:

"I still remember the Ervin Finalists Weekend, the first one. It was interesting because we had faculty from the five undergraduate schools working collaboratively on the selection committee. By the end of the weekend, finalists had visited classes, explored the campus and St. Louis. They enjoyed getting acquainted with each other and our current students. On Sunday morning the students had their cameras and were taking pictures of each other and promising to meet again in the fall. There were many tearful good-byes as the finalists left for the airport. The weekend was a real celebration."

The spirit of the Ervin Scholars family began in the first year of the Program. It continues to grow and evolve with each passing year. We engage in educational, cultural, social and volunteer activities. The Ervin Scholars reap the benefits of a sense of family created by the Scholars themselves, their parents and administrators. Our activities include an Orientation to the Program, bi-monthly meetings with the first year scholars, monthly activities with all scholars, Winter Retreat, Finalists Weekend and hosting prospective Scholars when they visit campus. Ervin Scholars are also active within the Washington University community.

In April 2004, Washington University in St. Louis announced that it will revise the criteria it uses to select scholarship recipients for its Ervin Scholars Program. The Program continues to foster a richly diverse educational atmosphere at Washington University. It is now open to all students who are dedicated to academic excellence, community service, especially communities in need, leadership, and diversity.

The new Ervin Scholars Program, continues to seek out students who demonstrate exceptional intellectual and leadership achievements. Community service accomplishments and the commitment of applicants to meeting the needs of less-fortunate segments of American society are also important considerations. The new selection factors went into effect with the selection of Ervin Scholars for the 2005-06 academic year.

Commenting on the changes, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton said,

“Looking back, we are very proud of the accomplishments we have encouraged through our support of the Ervin Scholars Program. The students we have attracted to the university as Ervin Scholars have been outstanding and have made important contributions to our community while obtaining a great education. Those who have graduated have distinguished themselves as they have taken up graduate or professional degree programs or have started their independent careers. These highly talented and well-educated men and women are enriching our world, and we are grateful to them for their continuing engagement with Washington University as distinguished alumni.

Our current Ervin Scholars will continue to receive our support and encouragement as they complete their degree programs with us. Looking forward, the successes we have realized with the Ervin Scholars Program reaffirm our conviction that a diverse community is a stronger community. We will continue our efforts to strengthen our quality by recruiting a talented and diverse student body.”

Explaining the reason for the revision, James E. McLeod noted,

“Given the Supreme Court’s decision last year involving the University of Michigan’s undergraduate admissions program and other legal developments, and in light of guidance we have recently received from the Department of Education, we believe it is no longer possible for Washington University to lawfully operate this scholarship program on a race-exclusive basis. The law has, in that respect, evolved since 1994, when the Department of Education issued the enforcement policy guidance to which we tried to conform the Ervin Program. As a result, we have confirmed to the government that we will modify the Ervin Scholars Program. We are confident that the Ervin Scholars Program will remain a nationally pre-eminent program, and one that continues to foster and enhance the overall quality and diversity of the University’s student body in a way that continues to honor the legacy of John B. Ervin.”

Under the vision and leadership of Dean McLeod, the Ervin Scholars Program has continued to thrive. In September 2007, the Program celebrated its 20th Anniversary! Over 500 Scholars and families returned to Washington University to celebrate the legacy of John Ervin.  The Ervin Program is strengthened by the support of the alumni, parents, and community friends of the Program.