A federal judge has tossed out a reverse discrimination suit against Texas Southern University by a White faculty member who was terminated for his questionable handling of scholarship funds in a tuition-reduction program for out-of-state and international students.
Although criminal authorities decided not to prosecute Dr. Peter Dittmer, TSU’s internal investigation provided a legitimate, non-discriminatory basis to fire him, U.S. District Judge Gray Miller ruled last month.
Dittmer was a professor in the Airway Science Department, which offers degrees in aviation science management, and was co-coordinator of the department. His responsibilities included awarding merit-based scholarships.
At issue was his use of a “scholarship device” known as tuition rebate that let non-Texas students qualify for lower in-state tuition if they paid at least $1,000 into a scholarship fund, the judge said.
Under the program, students, in essence, self-funded their own scholarships by receiving an award equal to the amount they contributed, according to Assistant Attorney Gen. Erika Laremont, who represents TSU in the case.
At least one international student complained of paying money to Dittmer in exchange for scholarships but received less back than was paid in. Laremont said the amounts were as much as $1,500 to $2,000.
Laremont said TSU found no proof that Dittmer personally benefited, but “no one knew where the extra money went.”
