Thread by @jennthetutor

I spoke out yesterday in the Black alumni @virginia_tech group about how my Black student was awarded $0 in aid

I was told there is not a large pot for merit aid and we need to fundraise

Last night it was made known that a student who is incredibly wealthy was awarded $$$$

Wealthy as in did not apply for any financial aid, because they knew they did not need any

Wealthy as in their car is worth 2x-3x more than tuition

Wealthy as in their computer and equipment was worth 2x-3x tuition

If Black students matter than Black students must be awarded aid

If this were any other university I would have put them on blast the minute it happened. I have tried to rectify it but have had no luck

I am sending my student to a college with more equitable aid practices and I will no longer actively recruit students until the merit aid equity is addressed and the question asking students to recount a discriminatory experience they lived or witness is addressed

And because I have advocated for @virginia_tech so publicly, it is my responsibility to now call out Virginia Tech publicly

While I applaud their enrollment AND their InclusionVT and their pipelines- what happened to my 3 students who applied this cycle was wrong

I have a valedictorian on the waitlist. I have another high performer on the waitlist. I know students with less qualifications but more connections that got in and they may be a better fit but I do not think Tech saw the value I am seeing and does not realize the impact

I have colleges working hard to recruit my Black students, my alma mater is not putting in the same effort.

I have colleges awarding my Black students $$$$ to $$$$$ in aid, my alma mater, @virginia_tech is defending awarding $0 and telling me there is limited funds while giving kids who don't need it $$$$

I cannot recruit because @virginia_tech current practices are not creating a feeling of welcoming for my pool

And I have attempted to resolve this but I cannot keep putting energy there when I am welcomed with open arms at other colleges but have to defend why I think practices are inequitable at Tech

So when @virginia_tech is ready to examine their practices I am ready to recruit again

. I applaud the Black enrollment growth from 4% to 8% and InclusionVT who I believe I donated a little money too but that is not benefiting my current class

But I am going where the money and the equity

Also tagging @VTSandsman @VTBlackCaucus @VT_BSA @Hokie_DOS @gull2hokie @VTProvost (see above tweets)

Please note before the: why do you have to do this publicly

1. I made multiple attempts to do this private

2. If this were another university not my alma mater I would have dragged it publicly to start and everyone on here knows that- because it’s my alma mater I didn’t do that and maybe that was a mistake because sunlight is the best disinfectant

3. Right now in the public Black alumni group we are being told that there is limited funds for aid and we need to fundraise AND THAT MAY BE TRUE but I volunteered my time (not dollars) to the 1B campaign, and I know we have some funds... as evidence by rich kids getting it

The issue is the funds are not being distributed equitably

A Black student excited about Virginia tech who needs aid to go got nothing- her top choice

A rich non-Black kid who doesn’t need aid and doesn’t have VT in a high spot got $$$$

If we fundraise, which we should, we would still need to address inequity in merit aid distribution and an admissions question that ask Black students and other to relive a traumatic experience of discrimination (which is the reason some of my Black students didn’t apply)

And I’m not angry about this. As a proud @Vtblackalumni I’m devastated that this outcome happened and I could not resolve it

That I convinced this Black girl to apply and got her accepted and now she can’t go because of merit aid inequity

I wish Virginia Tech would just admit this is not a good outcome, not one they like, and commit to do better instead of telling me and other @Vtblackalumni that we have great enrollment and programming tho... I agree AND THIS HAPPENED

Oh and for good measure @CollegiateTimes scroll up