US colleges may face a severe setback on campus diversity if the Supreme Court decides to overturn affirmative action. The move could potentially wipe out decades of progress in creating a diverse campus population, particularly among Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous populations.
In recent years, state-level bans on considering race in the admissions process have prompted many colleges to reconsider their policies. In states where race-neutral policies are mandatory, colleges have witnessed a significant drop in enrollment of Black and Hispanic students, with some institutions estimating that going entirely race-neutral would slash their diverse populations in half.
Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), a special-interest group, has alleged that race-conscious admissions processes in US colleges and universities are unjust and unconstitutional. On the other hand, in an op-ed in Inside Higher Ed, the presidents of LACRELA, the Liberal Arts Colleges Racial Equity Leadership Alliance, have argued that a holistic admissions process that considers the background and lived experiences of each applicant is critical to creating a well-rounded student body. The presidents have urged the Supreme Court to uphold affirmative action in admissions, explaining that a diverse student body promotes socioeconomic diversity, gender balance, representation from all 50 states, athletes, and other students interested in a variety of academic disciplines. Creating a “community of scholars” that benefits everyone, they argue, is possible only through affirmative action.
If the court prohibits consideration of race or ethnicity, recruitment, admission, scholarships, and other programming, the use of standardized test scores and application fees will be reduced, argue the presidents of LACRELA. They also suggest that removing discrimination between students based on race and ethnicity will help recruit more students from schools and communities that have not had access to good education.
The US Supreme Court is expected to decide on the fate of affirmative action by the end of this month. If affirmative action is struck down, many colleges may unknowingly admit fewer students of color. Racial diversity benefits the entire campus, exposing students to other worldviews and preparing them for a diverse workforce.
Meanwhile, a new bill in Florida could threaten to defund college diversity programs, potentially impacting the quality of education for students. The legislation, backed by Governor Ron DeSantis and part of a broader conservative movement to reduce support for academic programs and student life on college campuses, could have far-reaching consequences for programs promoting Latino Heritage Month or guest speakers discussing gender equality.
According to Pardis Mahdavi, provost and executive vice president at the University of Montana, diversity programs are crucial to preparing students to engage with the workforce, particularly as the US population diversifies at a rapid pace. The attack on diversity programs comes at a time when the US higher education system is facing declining enrollment and an increasing number of students failing to graduate.
In Virginia, a federal appeals court has upheld a race-neutral plan to increase diversity at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, a highly selective high school in Alexandria. The school district’s new admissions policy, supported by a district court judge in February 2022, allowed the top 1.5% of each of the district’s middle schools who meet certain minimum academic standards to be admitted to the school, with selection based, in part, on socio-economic factors. However, the new policy resulted in a decline in Asian American enrollment, leading to a lawsuit brought by the Coalition for TJ, a group of parents who argued that the policy was motivated by discriminatory intent. The Coalition, which opposes the consideration of race in admissions, plans to appeal the ruling to the US Supreme Court.
In conclusion, the fate of affirmative action remains uncertain, and colleges are bracing themselves for a potential setback on campus diversity. Until the Supreme Court decision comes out, colleges are thinking of changing their policies by considering adding more essays to applications to see an applicant’s background, admitting more transfer students from community colleges, and boosting recruitment in racially diverse areas. The importance of having a diverse student body cannot be overstated, as it creates a “community of scholars” that benefits everyone.
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