Missouri Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Decades of Underfunding at Black University
Students sue Missouri, claiming systemic underfunding of Lincoln University for decades. Legal action seeks damages and reforms.
POLICY WIRE — Jefferson City, Missouri — Seven current and former students have filed a lawsuit against the state of Missouri, accusing it of violating the U.S. Constitution and federal civil rights laws by consistently underfunding Lincoln University of Missouri for decades.
The legal action, submitted in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri Central Division, requests compensatory damages under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, citing educational and economic harm caused by years of insufficient financial support. It also demands an injunction to ensure Missouri fully matches Lincoln’s federal land-grant funding moving forward.
The plaintiffs seek resources for campus improvements, faculty recruitment, student services, financial aid, and agricultural research. The complaint highlights that from 1987 to 2020, Missouri allocated less per student to Lincoln than to the University of Missouri, which is the state’s predominantly white land-grant institution. A 2023 letter from U.S. agriculture and education officials estimated the state underfunded Lincoln by $361.6 million over that period.
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Between fiscal years 2000 and 2007, Missouri provided no matching funds for Lincoln’s federal land-grant allocation, and only partially covered the required match in later years. The university reportedly used $43.5 million from its general budget between 2000 and 2016 to cover state obligations and returned nearly $8 million in federal funds from 2016 to 2018 when it could not meet requirements. In contrast, Missouri fully matched the University of Missouri’s land-grant funding during the same time frame.
The lawsuit names the State of Missouri, the Coordinating Board for Higher Education, Governor Michael Kehoe, Higher Education Commissioner Bennett Boggs, and University of Missouri System President Mun Choi as defendants. Neither Lincoln University nor the University of Missouri has commented publicly, with the latter citing ongoing litigation. Plaintiffs argue that the funding disparities continue the legacy of segregation in Missouri’s higher education system, where Lincoln was established for Black students while the University of Missouri served white students.
One plaintiff, Makhi Jaff, stated in the lawsuit that Lincoln is constantly putting Band-Aids over bullet wounds because they do not have the resources to fully address the blow. The group includes alumni from the 1980s and 1990s, a former student who left without a degree in 2024, and four current students. They describe issues such as crumbling residence halls, limited dining and health services, scarce course options, and inadequate academic advising, along with financial struggles.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
