U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona said he was encouraged by the response from many institutions one year after the U.S. Supreme Court issued its June 29, 2023 ruling on affirmative action in higher education.
The court's 6-3 decision Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. Harvard University President and Fellows Restrict the use of affirmative action in college admissions. The majority opinion ruled that admissions programs used by the University of North Carolina and Harvard University violated the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits racial discrimination in government agencies.
Cardona said the decision reverses decades of practice and severely limits a critical tool colleges use to foster vibrant, diverse campus communities and expand higher education opportunities for students of color, who often face inequities in our education system.
“This decision is a blow to the fight for equal opportunity and a more just and equitable nation,” Cardona said. “The Biden-Harris administration will not back down from its commitment to educational opportunity for all Americans.”
“Over the past year, I have been encouraged to see many colleges and universities taking concrete steps to preserve educational diversity and equity in their hiring and admissions practices, as well as efforts to foster inclusive and supportive campus cultures.”
In response to the court's ruling, the U.S. Department of Education issued guidance that prompted many schools to revise their admissions strategies to consider student achievement in the context of adversity and resilience.
Cardona said some schools have launched targeted recruiting programs, while others have cut costs by providing on-demand applications and simplifying the student application process.
“We also recognize the critical role that K-12 plays in providing rigorous and engaging pathways to graduate education and the strong partnership between higher education and K-12 in increasing access to graduate education for students of color,” Cardona said. “I know the importance,” he said.
“The Department of Education applauds these efforts,” he continued. “I look forward to working together to intentionally better support students of color and eliminate unacceptable gaps and inequities in higher education. The fight for a more inclusive system continues. Together, we will continue to raise the bar for all of our nation’s students.”