Avila University

Last year's chaotic FAFSA rollout and the Trump administration’s goal of closing the U.S. Department of Education have some Kansas City area college students nervous about access to some of their main sources of financial aid being further complicated or lost entirely.

Donors had specified that Avila University in Kansas City shouldn’t spend the principal of its endowment, which is invested and used to pay for scholarships. However, Avila argued it needed access to all of the money, otherwise it would be "challenged to meet its financial obligations."

The Catholic liberal arts school in Kansas City is asking a court to remove limitations that donors imposed on money they gave for scholarships. Avila University says that if it can't tap into its endowment, "the University will be challenged to meet its financial obligations."

The U.S. Supreme Court effectively ended affirmative action in higher education last month. While many colleges in Missouri aren’t making significant changes to their admissions and scholarship processes, some university officials say it will impact diversity in higher education.

James Burkee has hit the ground running, as he finds innovative ways to provide full-ride scholarships to over 200 lower-income students.