The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that colleges and universities must stop considering race in admissions, forcing institutions of higher education to look for new ways to achieve diverse student bodies.
Since the 1960s, seeking to overcome a legacy of segregation and inequality in higher education, many American colleges and universities began giving preference to applicants from underrepresented groups in order to proactively diversify their campuses. Since 1976, Black, Native American, Hispanic and Asian American student enrollment has surged, according to Department of Education data. Despite the gains, however, students of color remain underrepresented on campuses nationwide.The court has repeatedly said since 1978 that colleges and universities may consider the race of applicants -- as one factor among many -- in the interest of promoting compelling educational benefits that come from a diverse student body.
In 2014, SFFA sued Harvard University, the nation's oldest private college, and the University of North Carolina, the nation's oldest public university, alleging illegal racial discrimination against Asian American applicants during the admissions process.
The fact that the court agreed to take up SFFA's appeals after definitive lower court judgments suggests the conservative majority is poised to significantly rollback precedent if not overturn it entirely.Supporters of the policy say it would unequivocally mean fewer minority students on the campuses of the nation's most selective colleges and universities.
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