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

Institutions Drop Legacy Admissions Policies

Jul 27, 2023, 12:22 PM

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Summary : Amidst mounting pressure to address the perceived inequities associated with legacy admissions, some institutions are voluntarily choosing to abandon the practice.

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Legacy admissions policies have come under increased scrutiny in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to strike down affirmative action, The Washington Post reported.

Critics argue that these policies provide an undue advantage to well-connected white students, according to BBC News. On the other hand, proponents, including Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber, contend that such policies contribute something unique to the campus communities by maintaining ties to earlier generations.

According to an analysis by the Washington Post, more than 100 selective schools, including all Ivy League institutions, take into account alumni-applicant relationships when making admissions decisions.

However, amidst mounting pressure to address the perceived inequities associated with legacy admissions, some institutions have voluntarily chosen to abandon the practice. Notably, Wesleyan University is among a small but growing group of selective schools that disregard alumni ties, alongside the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Amherst College, the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, and Carnegie Mellon University, reported Inside Higher Ed.

Michael Roth, the president of Wesleyan University, expressed his hope that more schools would follow suit in ending legacy admissions. He also emphasized the importance of redirecting the conversation towards addressing the root cause of the issue: the lack of adequate preparation for a successful college education among many high school graduates, Inside Higher Ed reported. He questioned why a significant number of individuals are deprived of a decent high school education, hindering their ability to compete on a level playing field with their peers.