Presidents’ Alliance Responds to Supreme Court’s Decision on Race-Conscious Admissions

Presidents’ Alliance Responds to Supreme Court’s Decision on Race-Conscious Admissions

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jason Koh, jason@presidentsalliance.org 

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Supreme Court ruled to effectively end race-conscious admissions at colleges and universities. The Presidents’ Alliance is deeply disappointed with the court’s decision to upend decades of legal precedent that guided higher education’s commitment to diversity, excellence, and innovation.

Race-conscious admissions has enabled the holistic review of students’ talents, experiences, and backgrounds. When 80% of immigrant-origin students are students of color, the court’s decision will add further barriers to the enrollment of DACA, undocumented, refugee, and other first- and second-generation immigrant students – who constitute the fastest growing U.S. student population.

Felecia Russell, Director of the Higher Ed Immigration Portal, stated:

“As a former Director of Undergraduate Admissions and a current Black-DACAmented individual, I know first-hand that the Supreme Court decision will have detrimental effects on higher education. In response to the court’s regressive ruling, it is my hope that the higher education community will review their current admission policies and redouble their efforts to ensure those policies are inclusive, strengthen diversity, and promote a holistic admission process. This decision should prompt higher education institutions to stay committed to expand access for all students, especially those from marginalized and historically underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds.”

Today’s decision means that the tools colleges and universities can use to recognize, nurture, and unleash students’ talents and potential will be diminished.  This means we need to redouble our efforts to advance equity, excellence, and inclusivity on college campuses and beyond.  

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The nonpartisan, nonprofit Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration brings college and university presidents and chancellors together on the immigration issues that impact higher education, our students, campuses, communities and nation. We work to advance just immigration policies and practices at the federal, state, and campus level that are consistent with our heritage as a nation of immigrants and the academic values of equity and openness. The Alliance is composed of over 500 presidents and chancellors of public and private colleges and universities, enrolling over five million students in 43 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico.