Emory Launches Free Tuition Plan, Ends DEI Programs, Unveils Housing for Healthcare Staff, and Mourns Officer Lost in Shooting

Good afternoon, Emory community. Today is Monday, September 22, 2025, and here are the latest updates from our campus. Starting in the fall of 2026, Emory University will implement the Emory Advantage Plus program. This initiative ensures that all undergraduate students from families earning less than $200,000 annually will no longer pay tuition. Both new and returning students will be eligible for this program. Interim President Leah Ward Sears emphasized the university's commitment to making education accessible, stating, "When students sit at the kitchen table with their parents to discuss college, I don’t want finances to be a consideration." In response to a recent executive order titled "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity," Emory University has announced the discontinuation of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and the closure of related offices. Interim President Sears noted that the university must comply with new federal mandates affecting institutions that receive federal funding. Emory University plans to redevelop a former auto garage and homeless shelter on Peachtree Street into over 50 competitively priced apartments for health care workers at Emory Midtown. This project aims to support nurses and technicians who are increasingly priced out of downtown Atlanta, while preserving much of the historic site's architecture. The initiative is still in the early planning stages and awaits approval for partial demolition to add windows to the structure. Last month, a tragic incident occurred near the Emory University campus and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A police officer was fatally shot while responding to an active shooter situation. The shooter, who acted alone, was also killed. Fortunately, no civilians were harmed during the incident. The university community mourns the loss and extends condolences to the officer's family. Looking ahead, the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta will present a concert featuring works by Boccherini, Beethoven, and Brahms. The performance is scheduled for September 6 at 8:00 p.m. in the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. That's all for today's update. Stay safe and engaged, Emory.