Affirmative Action

When the U.S. Supreme Court restricted how colleges can use affirmative action in admissions, it reversed 40 years of precedent and took an ahistorical view that the very laws meant to redress racial injustice prohibit the government from considering race when trying to create equal opportunity. In states where affirmative action has been banned in years past, institutions have spent hundreds of millions of dollars attempting to attract diverse student bodies without considering race—and have fallen short.

In light of the court’s decision, highly selective institutions will need to redouble their efforts to create educational opportunity for students from all walks of life, including through the consideration of adversity and “first generation” and socioeconomic status. That also must include questioning policies that favor privileged applicants, such as standardized testing requirements and preferences for legacies and children of donors.

It is important to keep in mind that the vast majority of college students attend institutions that are not highly selective and have never used affirmative action. Unfortunately, many of the institutions that do the most to advance economic mobility, including minority-serving institutions and community colleges, have also been systemically underfunded. This needs to be redressed to restore the promise of higher education as a pathway to opportunity for all.

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California Is Not a Bellwether on Affirmative Action Article
People vote on the last day of early voting for the 2020 U.S. elections at The Forum on November 2, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) (Getty/Frederic J. Brown/AFP)

California Is Not a Bellwether on Affirmative Action

The November 3 results for Proposition 16 underscore the need for a clear message, adequate time and resources, and voter persuasion.

Viviann Anguiano, Marshall Anthony Jr.

Gaps in the Debate About Asian Americans and Affirmative Action at Harvard Article
Students attend Harvard University's 2018 367th Commencement at the university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 24, 2018. (Getty/Paul Marotta)

Gaps in the Debate About Asian Americans and Affirmative Action at Harvard

Race-conscious admissions policies benefit all students of color, including Asian Americans, and higher education institutions must use these practices—along with other considerations—to better ensure diversity and equity on their campuses.

Sylvia Guan

Asian Americans Benefit from Diversity in Higher Education Article
Demonstrators protest outside the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Monday, February 13, 2012, after a panel heard oral arguments in San Francisco in a lawsuit seeking to overturn Proposition 209, which barred racial, ethnic, or gender preferences in public education, employment, and contracting. (AP/Paul Sakuma)

Asian Americans Benefit from Diversity in Higher Education

The conservative strategy of attempting to pit Asian Americans against other communities of color fails to recognize overwhelming support for affirmative action by Asian Americans.

Julie Ajinkya

10 Reasons Why We Need Diversity on College Campuses Article
Sid Jacobo, left, and Jazel Flores, right, protest outside of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals after a panel heard arguments in San Francisco earlier this year. The Supreme Court this week will hear arguments in an affirmative action case. (AP/Paul Sakuma)

10 Reasons Why We Need Diversity on College Campuses

If the Supreme Court decides against the use of race in college admissions, it will erase many years of progress for campuses trying to be more diverse and inclusive.

Sophia Kerby

Why Diversity Still Matters Article
Activistas se manifestan afuera de la Corte Suprema durante <i>Grutter v. Bollinger</i>, el caso que defendió la práctica de usar la etnicidad o raza como un factor entre varios para obtener más diversidad racial en las universidades. Una demanda que se presentará este año podría revocar ese logro. (AP/ Charles Dharapak)

Why Diversity Still Matters

Julie Ajinkya argues that the Supreme Court should affirm the importance of diversity by upholding its previous ruling allowing race to be used as a factor in college admissions.

Julie Ajinkya

Affirmative Action in the United States Article

Affirmative Action in the United States

Michael Werz and Julie Margetta Morgan analyze affirmative action policies in the United States in this piece posted on Heinrich Boll's website.

Michael Werz, Julie Margetta Morgan

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