In a groundbreaking decision, the Supreme Court has struck down affirmative action, sending shockwaves through higher education and leaving colleges scrambling to find new ways to promote student diversity. University leaders expressed disappointment over the ruling, but also expressed optimism about finding alternative methods for admitting Black and Hispanic students. President Joe Biden disagreed with the decision and has tasked the Education Department with exploring policies that support the creation of diverse student bodies while also challenging policies that benefit white, affluent students, such as legacy preferences.
However, evidence from states that have previously outlawed affirmative action suggests that this will be a difficult challenge. Colleges in California and Florida, for example, have experimented with various strategies to achieve diversity, such as giving preference to low-income families or admitting top students from every community in their state. However, these efforts have not provided a clear solution and have often resulted in decreased enrollment among Black and Hispanic students, particularly at selective colleges that have historically been predominantly white.
In anticipation of a rollback on affirmative action, colleges have been preparing for alternative approaches. Some are considering adding more essays to gain a better understanding of an applicant’s background, as suggested in the Supreme Court ruling. Others are planning to increase recruiting efforts in racially diverse areas or admit more transfer students from community colleges. The court’s ruling allows universities to consider an applicant’s discussion of how race has impacted their life, as long as it is tied to their character or unique abilities.
The affirmative action case reached the Supreme Court in response to challenges at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. Lower courts had upheld the admission systems at both schools, dismissing claims of discrimination against white and Asian American applicants. However, during Supreme Court arguments, the conservative justices expressed doubts about the practice, which had been upheld in previous Supreme Court decisions.
Nine states have already banned affirmative action, beginning with California in 1996 and most recently Idaho in 2020. Michigan, after facing a ban in 2006, shifted its focus to low-income students but has not fully rebounded in terms of Black and Hispanic enrollments. The University of California also saw a decline in these enrollments following a statewide ban in 1996, despite implementing programs aimed at low-income and first-generation college students.
Opponents of affirmative action argue that some states have fared well without it. For example, after Oklahoma outlawed the practice in 2012, the state’s flagship university did not experience a severe decline in minority enrollments. However, colleges fear that the absence of affirmative action could lead to unknowingly admitting fewer students of color, ultimately perpetuating a cycle where campuses become less attractive to future diverse students.
In addition to race, the Supreme Court’s decision could also impact other admissions policies. Experts believe that colleges may need to reevaluate policies that advantage white students, such as legacy preferences, early admission, and standardized test scores, in order to attract underserved populations. Racial diversity is seen as beneficial for the entire campus, as it exposes students to different perspectives and prepares them for a diverse workforce.
Overall, colleges and universities are facing a challenging task in promoting diversity on their campuses following the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action. However, they remain committed to finding innovative ways to build diverse student bodies that reflect the principles upon which the country was founded.
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