A multi-million dollar program that gave economically disadvantaged students from Africa full ride scholarships to Michigan State University is now over, after the Mastercard Foundation decided to 'terminate their agreements' with the school.
A February 23rd letter sent to MSU colleagues from International Studies and Programs Dean Steven D. Hanson states the Mastercard Foundation is 'exercising its contractual right to terminate the agreements without cause, effective March 21, 2018.'
The termination means the Mastercard Foundation Scholars program and the Agrifood Youth Opportunity Labs will end.
Students Currently enrolled in the program are not in jeopardy of losing their scholarships, the letter states. Funding for a Fall 2018 or 2019 graduate cohort will not be available.
According to the MSU International Studies and Programs website, 'Michigan State University is a lead partner with The MasterCard Foundation on its $500 million education initiative, The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program, to provide talented, yet financially disadvantaged African youth with access to high-quality education.'
An undated 2018 student profile on the MSU Broad College of Business website stated the 'University is receiving $45 million in funding from the foundation to support 185 scholars throughout the nine-year program.' 'MSU is the only institution in Michigan- and the Midwest- to join the program,' the page states.
The Agrifood Youth Opportunity Lab was a five year, $13 million dollar partnership meant to 'help 15,000 young people access employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in the fast growing horticulture, aquaculture, poultry cassava and oilseed sectors in Tanzania and Nigeria,' according to an April 2017 article on MSU Today.
The Mastercard Foundation did not immediately respond to FOX 47 when asked why it terminated agreements with MSU.
Check back for updates.
