The Supreme Court handed down a landmark ruling today in the case Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. vs. President and Fellows of Harvard College, holding that race-conscious admissions programs at both Harvard University and the University of North Carolina violate the equal protection clause of the Constitution.
 
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., writing for the 6-3 majority, said the two programs “unavoidably employ race in a negative manner” and “involve racial stereotyping,” in a manner that violates the Constitution.
 
Although the ruling does not impose an outright ban on race-conscious admissions at colleges and universities, the constitutional test it establishes, particularly its focus on a lack of a meaningful end point, will effectively end such programs, while leaving the door open for institutions of higher education to consider an applicant’s lived experiences, including those referencing race.
 
In brief remarks at the White House President Joe Biden assailed the decision: “Because the truth is, we all know it: Discrimination still exists in America. Today’s decision does not change that. It’s a simple fact.”
 
NAICU President Barbara K. Mistick offered the following comments in a statement:  “While the opinions from the justices will take some time to parse, it is clear that the Supreme Court’s decision establishes a new framework for the future of higher education admissions that will have wide-ranging implications. Even with today’s decision, I am certain that diversity in backgrounds, perspectives, demographics, religions, life experiences, and more will remain core educational values for private, nonprofit higher education.  We must continue to explore alternative solutions and find common ground to address the underlying issues of inequality and discrimination that persist in our society.”
 
Below are links to the decision, the NAICU statement and a sampling of today’s media coverage:
 
The Supreme Court Decision: Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. vs. President and Fellows of Harvard College 
 
NAICU Statement:  Supreme Court’s Decision Regarding Race-Conscious Admissions
 
 
Select Media Coverage
 
Supreme Court Rejects Affirmative Action
Inside Higher Ed (June 29, 2023)
 
U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Race-Conscious Admissions Nationwide
The Chronicle of Higher Education (June 29, 2023)
 
Supreme Court Strikes Down Race-Based Admissions at Harvard and U.N.C.
The New York Times (June 29, 2023)
 
‘This Is Not a Normal Court’: Biden Slams Supreme Court Ruling on Affirmative Action
The New York Times (June 29, 2023)
 
Supreme Court Restricts Race-Based Affirmative Action in College Admissions
The Washington Post (June 29, 2023)
 
Can Colleges Be Racially Diverse Without Affirmative Action? Experience Suggests No
The Wall Street Journal (June 29, 2023)
 
Supreme Court Bans Affirmative Action: What It Means for College Admissions (Video Report)
The Wall Street Journal (June 29, 2023)
 
Supreme Court Strikes Down Race-Based Affirmative Action In College Admissions
Los Angeles Times (June 29, 2023)
 
Supreme Court Blocks Use of Affirmative Action at Harvard, UNC in Blow to Diversity Efforts
USA Today (June 29, 2023)
 
Supreme Court Guts Affirmative Action, Effectively Ending Race-Conscious Admissions
NPR.org (June 29, 2023)
 
As SCOTUS Strikes Down Affirmative Action, Chicago and Illinois React: ‘This Decision Only Sets Us Back’
The Chicago Tribune (June 29, 2023)
 
Supreme Court Outlaws Affirmative Action in College Admissions in Landmark Decision
The New York Post (June 29, 2023)
 
Ending Affirmative Action Is Watershed Moment for Higher Education
Axios.com (June 29, 2023)
 
Ending Affirmative Action May Be Just the Beginning
Politico.org (June 29, 2023)
 
Why America’s Supreme Court Has Ended Affirmative Action
The Economist (June 29, 2023)
 
Most Americans Wanted the Supreme Court to End Affirmative Action — Kind of
FiveThirtyEight.com (June 29, 2023)
 
More Americans Disapprove Than Approve of Colleges Considering Race, Ethnicity in Admissions Decisions
Pew Research.org (June 8, 2023)
 
 
It’s Time for Colleges to Guarantee Prices, Before Students Apply - Columnist
The New York Times (June 29, 2023)
 
Supreme Court Ends Affirmative Action in Admissions. Colleges Will Be Whiter for It. - Commentary
USA Today (June 29, 2023)