Ricky Jones Hosts Forum on House Bill 4 Impact

The University of Louisville professor led a packed Chao Auditorium session on changes affecting Black programs at the school.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in African-American

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a brick and limestone university building facade under a muted autumn sky, with a single bare tree at its edge. — Louisville professor Ricky Jones hosted a packed forum on Wednesday at the University of Louisville on how Kentucky House Bill 4 changed programs serving Black students and faculty. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should public universities be required to keep race-specific scholarships and programs?

Pan-African Studies professor Ricky Jones hosted an informational forum on Wednesday, October 28, in Chao Auditorium at the University of Louisville about the effects of Kentucky House Bill 4. Chairs filled the room, the overflow spilled into the lobby, and a livestream ran on Jones' Instagram account.

Why it matters

House Bill 4 is cited as the cause of changes affecting Black programs at the University of Louisville, including the Woodford R. Porter Scholarship and the Cultural Center. Jones said there has been no conversation between university leadership and Black faculty, staff and students on a path forward.

The Woodford R. Porter Scholarship's incoming class is 18% Black, compared with its original founding purpose of serving only high-achieving Black students. Jones' Instagram livestream reached an audience of over 12,000 followers, but no independent count of attendance was reported.

The players

Ricky Jones

Pan-African Studies professor at the University of Louisville who led the forum and has been vocal about the bill's effects on Black programs.

University of Louisville

Public research university in Louisville, Kentucky, whose Black programs and scholarships are affected by House Bill 4 and which may face legal action.

The details

Jones walked the audience through the changes House Bill 4 created, and attendees asked questions and shared information about further action for 20 minutes. The forum was suggested by student Ariyauna Ridgeway, and Jones apologized for a lack of support and action in the year following the bill's passing. The Cultural Center is now known as the Center for Belonging, Access and Engagement, and the recurring event series 'Melanin Monday' was canceled.

2025: The year following House Bill 4's passing, which Jones said saw a lack of support and action.
Wednesday, October 28, 2026: Informational forum held at Chao Auditorium.

Legal Context

The forum centers on Kentucky House Bill 4, a state law whose implementation has led the University of Louisville to alter Black-focused programs and scholarships. Jones' suggestion that the university may have overcomplied with the bill places the local changes within a broader debate over how public institutions implement state-mandated policy.

For students and families relying on the Woodford R. Porter Scholarship or the Cultural Center's programming, the changes alter which resources and events are available on campus. Anyone seeking the forum's information can follow Ricky Jones' Instagram account, where the livestream was broadcast.

The takeaway

Changes triggered by state legislation can reshape campus programs quietly, and the forum shows how students and faculty are seeking answers on what comes next.