Wilmington -- July 7, 2026: The family behind one of the University of North Carolina Wilmington's long-standing scholarship endowments has announced it will end future scholarship funding through the university, citing concerns that changes required under the University of North Carolina System's Equality Policy would alter the donor's original intent.
The decision follows discussions between the Upperman family and UNCW regarding the scholarship established in honor of the late Dr. Leroy Upperman. According to the family, they were informed that language identifying the scholarship as benefiting African American students would need to be revised to comply with policy changes adopted by the UNC System.
Linda Upperman Smith, Dr. Upperman's daughter, said the family was unwilling to make those changes because they believe doing so would contradict her father's wishes.
"There's no way that we're going to not follow my father's wishes," Smith said.
She added, "We're not changing the wording."
Rather than revise the scholarship's language, the family has decided to discontinue future scholarship funding through UNCW under the current policy. The scholarship's existing endowment, reported to be valued at approximately $1 million, will remain invested. The family has also said it is considering transferring the endowment to another institution, including Howard University, where Dr. Upperman attended medical school.
Two Layers Behind the Decision
The dispute reflects two separate but related issues: the immediate policy governing the scholarship and the broader national debate over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The Immediate Issue: UNC System Policy
In 2024, the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors adopted an Equality Policy that replaced the system's previous DEI policy. The policy emphasizes institutional neutrality, equal opportunity, compliance with federal and state law, and limits on certain DEI-related practices.
As part of implementing the policy, universities throughout the UNC System reviewed scholarships, programs, and institutional practices to ensure they complied with the updated requirements.
UNCW has said its review of the Upperman scholarship was conducted as part of that system-wide compliance effort.
The Broader Context
The scholarship dispute also comes amid a broader national shift in higher education policy.
Over the past several years, several states have reduced or eliminated DEI programs at public colleges and universities. Since taking office in 2025, the Trump administration has issued executive actions aimed at limiting certain DEI initiatives within the federal government and has encouraged institutions receiving federal funding to review related policies.
While the UNC System adopted its Equality Policy before those federal actions, the national debate surrounding DEI has continued to influence higher education policy discussions across the country.
Donor Intent and Institutional Responsibility
At the heart of the disagreement is a question many colleges and universities are increasingly facing: how to balance donor intent with changing legal and institutional requirements.
The Upperman family maintains that preserving the scholarship's original purpose is essential to honoring Dr. Upperman's legacy. University officials, meanwhile, have said they are responsible for administering scholarships in accordance with policies established by the UNC System.
Although the dispute originated at UNCW, the policies involved apply across the University of North Carolina System, making the issue relevant to students, donors, and public universities throughout North Carolina.
As colleges and universities continue adapting to evolving legal and policy requirements, similar questions involving donor-directed scholarships, institutional compliance, and charitable intent are likely to emerge elsewhere.
For the Upperman family, however, the issue is personal. Their decision reflects a determination to preserve the scholarship exactly as Dr. Upperman envisioned it, even if that means ending future scholarship funding through UNCW.