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

Naval Academy Sued Over Race-Conscious Admissions Policies

Oct 12, 2023, 12:16 PM

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Summary : The suit against the Naval Academy is the second challenge brought in recent weeks against the admissions policies of US military schools.

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An anti-affirmative action group recently sued the U.S. Naval Academy over race-based admissions policies, reported CNN Politics. The suit was filed by the same group whose lawsuits against Harvard and the University of North Carolina led the Supreme Court to declare race-conscious admissions policies unlawful earlier this year.

Students for Fair Admissions filed with a federal court in Maryland, alleging that the academy "has no justification for using race-based admissions." The conservative group argues that the college's policy of using race as a factor in admissions is unconstitutional, stating that "because the Academy provides a racial 'benefit' to some applicants but not to others,' it 'necessarily advantages the former group at the expense of the latter.'"

The suit against the Naval Academy is the second challenge brought in recent weeks by SFFA against the admissions policies of US military schools, according to CNN Politics. The group filed suit against the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in September, asking a judge to prohibit the New York school from "considering or knowing" an applicant's race during the admissions process.

As matters currently stand, the Supreme Court's landmark ruling no longer allows colleges and universities to take race into consideration as a specific basis for granting admissions—except for US military service academies.