On October 31, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases about the consideration of race in college admissions: SFFA v.UNC and SFFA v. Harvard. These two cases were heard separately over the course of the day. The Court is expected to reach a decision by June 2023 and audio recordings for both the UNC and Harvard cases are now available on the Court’s website.
Regardless of your current planning stage, you can prepare now by reviewing the Access and Diversity Collaborative’s Action Guide for Higher Education. The Guide summarizes key conversations held in the summer and fall of 2022 to discuss ADC sponsors’ preparations for the decision and outlines strategies to take proactive steps to prepare for an array of possible outcomes.
A few strategies outlined within the Action Guide include:
• Determining your office’s level of preparedness in the event race can no longer be considered in any capacity in the admissions process.
• Conducting an inventory of where race is used, or referenced, in your enrollment process.
• Assessing your recruitment process for potential opportunities towards expanding or reimagining target geographic areas and high school types as well as cultivating relationships with external stakeholders.
• Evaluate your application process to determine if modifications need to be made to the review rubric, application essays, personal statements, or supplemental questions.
The Action Guide has a few tips on how to jump into these strategies, but if more guidance is needed, College Aid Services is here to help institutions. With over 20+ years of higher education experience, we look forward to exploring how we can meet your needs. Connect with us here!
Source:
The Access and Diversity Collaborative’s Action Guide for Higher Education