Affirmative Action Challenge and Supreme Court Guidance

Supreme Court Cases: Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard and UNC

America’s higher education institutions have long recognized and cultivated the educational benefits of diversity. AACRAO believes holistic admissions practices are instrumental in helping institutions to identify students who are likely to thrive in their educational programs.

We will continue our efforts in support of equitable access to education. Our meetings, workshops, and digital platforms will continue to have space for institutions to work towards confronting implicit bias and addressing systemic inequities. We will provide support to institutions as they reframe their admissions plans in light of this legislation, while ensuring that the successes of minoritized students are not set back. And we will work to ensure that data-informed processes are built to develop and improve student support and programming.

Read our statement on the rulings to learn more.

Webinars

The Supreme Court Speaks: Understanding the Implications of Race-Conscious Admission Decision

3:00-4:30 PM ET | JULY 19, 2023

AACRAO, NACAC, NASFAA have joined together to present a webinar on the SFFA v Harvard and UNC cases. This webinar will provide attendees with a streamlined, practical analysis of two recent U.S. Supreme Court cases challenging race-conscious admission policies: Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard and SFFA v. UNC.

Looking Back, Planning Ahead

On February 2, 2023, AACRAO hosted a webinar that examines the pending U.S. Supreme cases where the central question is whether colleges and universities can continue to consider an applicant’s race and ethnicity as part of the holistic review process in admissions.

View Recording

AACRAO Process Examination Guidelines

AACRAO encourages members to begin to examine any admissions or recruitment practices that target populations of a specific race as well as their overall holistic/equity admissions practices.

To assist in this process, AACRAO is providing this guidance document to prepare our members for a possible major change in their ability to consider an applicant’s race and ethnicity as part of a holistic/equity review in admissions.

REVIEW GUIDANCE

Updates

Education Dept. Releases Post-Race-Conscious Admissions Report

Oct 5, 2023, 11:41 AM

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Summary : Meanwhile, the House education committee hosts a hearing to discuss the changing landscape of college admissions.

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A series of events on Capitol Hill highlighted the divisive landscape surrounding the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on race-conscious admissions, Inside Higher Ed reported. The U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing last Thursday on the changing landscape of college admissions.

During the hearing, entitled "How SCOTUS's Decision on Race-Based Admissions is Shaping University Policies," Republican lawmakers cautioned against attempts to circumvent the court's ruling, while Democrats criticized the decision and advocated for race-neutral alternatives.

Later that day, the Education Department released a 66-page report urging states and college leaders to prioritize diversity in admissions policies following the court's decision. The report is part of the Biden administration's response, calling on higher education institutions to consider "lawful" paths for admitting diverse classes. U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, in remarks at the White House Thursday, emphasized the need for holistic admissions policies, considering adversity students have overcome, accepting more transfer students, and reevaluating legacy preferences, reported Politico.

The report serves as a roadmap for colleges and universities, proposing various programs and policies for consideration, including recruiting from pathway programs and K-12 schools serving underrepresented and lower-income students, emphasizing student adversity or resiliency in application essays, ending legacy admissions, simplifying the admissions process, providing need-based aid through transparent student aid applications, and supporting retention and completion rates through diversity, equity, and inclusion programming.

For state leaders, the report emphasizes supporting institutions' enrollment of underrepresented students through sufficient funding, reviewing financial aid eligibility requirements, and addressing transfer credit issues between K-12 schools and higher education institutions.

The Education Department plans to consider collecting and publishing more information on college applications and enrollment trends, with a focus on disaggregating data by race and ethnicity, first-generation status, and legacy status, Politico reported. The goal is to guide a conversation on admissions policies and contribute to creating a more diverse and inclusive higher education environment.

The report's release coincides with heightened partisan tensions and criticism from conservative legislators regarding the department's response to the Supreme Court's decision, reported Inside Higher Ed.