Petition launched to save BYU's SOAR program after federal funding cuts

PROVO — After 25 years of helping first‑generation and multicultural students prepare for college, BYU's long-running Summer of Academic Refinement, or SOAR, program is coming to an end following federal funding cuts. Now, a growing online petition is urging the university to keep the program alive.

The change has sparked concern from students, alumni, and families who say SOAR has played a critical role in helping underrepresented students navigate the path to higher education.

Former student shares how the program changed his life

Keoki Leong, a BYU graduate and now a medical resident at UC Davis in the plastic surgery department, said SOAR was instrumental in getting him to college in the first place.

"None of my parents knew how to apply to college or even know how to apply for scholarships. So, it was all on me," Leong said.

Leong grew up in Hawaii as one of seven children — and the only one to earn a college degree. He credits the SOAR program with helping him prepare for college entrance exams, navigate the BYU application process and secure scholarships he otherwise may not have known about.

"SOAR helped me not only gain the confidence, but the knowledge to know where to go for help and where to find resources," he said.

Students push back as petition gains momentum

News of the program's closure was met with frustration among multicultural students on campus. A new petition — already signed by more than a thousand students — calls on BYU to restore or rebuild a multicultural support program like SOAR.

Amanda Quintana, the student who launched the petition, said losing SOAR will leave many students without critical guidance.

"They feel like a fish out of water. They feel so out of place," she said. "They don't have connections, they don't have friends, they don't have people they can relate to — and they don't last."

Quintana hopes the petition at least raises awareness about the importance of programs designed to support diversity and first‑generation students on campus.

BYU responds

In a statement posted on the SOAR website, BYU confirmed the program will not continue in its current form, citing federal funding changes. However, the university emphasized its ongoing commitment to student support.

"While the SOAR program won't continue in its current form, the university's commitment to supporting our students, including first‑generation students, remains strong. University leadership is exploring ways to strengthen student success and college preparedness in ways that reflect BYU's unique spiritual and educational mission."

Leong says he's disappointed to see the Department of Justice cut multicultural funding — not just at BYU but at universities nationwide. He hopes that with enough student support, the program or something like it can return.

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