Supreme Court Decision to End Race-Conscious Admissions Will Bring Complicated Changes to Higher Education
The recent Supreme Court decision to end race-conscious admissions is expected to have far-reaching effects on higher education in the United States. While some of these changes may be obvious, such as immediate shifts in campus demographics, others could have a profound impact on society as a whole.
One of the most visible consequences of this decision will be a significant transformation in the makeup of student bodies at selective colleges and universities that previously employed race-conscious admissions. Nine states in the country already prohibit this form of affirmative action in their public universities, providing a glimpse of what may occur nationwide.
For instance, after Michigan banned race-conscious admissions in 2006, the proportion of Black undergraduate students at the University of Michigan’s flagship campus in Ann Arbor dropped from 7 percent in 2006 to a mere 4 percent in 2021. Similarly, the University of California’s most selective schools experienced a decline in Black student enrollment after Proposition 209 banned race-conscious admissions in 1996. The percentage of Black students at the University of California, Los Angeles, plummeted from 7 percent in 1996 to 3.43 percent in 1998.
However, the repercussions of this decision extend beyond undergraduate programs. Experts predict that medical schools, law schools, and other professional degree programs will also witness a decrease in the number of Black and Latino students. The Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association warned that states that have implemented similar bans on race-conscious admissions have seen a 37 percent decrease in minority medical-school enrollment, consequently narrowing the pipeline for doctors from these underrepresented groups. Presently, only 5.7 percent of doctors in the US are Black, and 6.8 percent identify as Hispanic.
In addition to the medical field, the legal profession is also expected to be affected. The American Bar Association has expressed concerns, stating that affirmative action is crucial for ensuring a more racially diverse profession and judiciary, which, in turn, is vital for the legitimacy of the legal system.
Interestingly, this shift in admissions policies could also result in historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) experiencing a surge in applications. In the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, Black students seeking a nurturing environment and a sense of belonging increasingly turned to HBCUs. This trend could be amplified following the Supreme Court ruling. David A. Thomas, the president of Morehouse College, a selective HBCU in Atlanta, anticipates college-ready Black students and their families actively seeking institutions where they feel genuinely wanted and supported.
Moreover, the decision has left colleges and universities apprehensive about potential lawsuits. As the fall admissions season approaches, university officials are scrambling to revise their plans while also being mindful of potential legal challenges. Conservative legal activists have already indicated their intentions to challenge admissions practices that they deem as mere proxies for race-based admissions. Multiple lawsuits have already been filed, including one against Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia, alleging that the school used proxies like ZIP codes to favor the admissions of Black and Latino students over Asian American students. Legal experts anticipate that such challenges will become a prominent issue going forward.
While the full impact of the Supreme Court decision remains to be seen, it is evident that higher education in the United States will undergo substantial changes. From a shifting campus landscape to a potential decrease in diversity in the medical and legal professions, the effects will be multifaceted and complex. As universities and colleges grapple with this new reality, the broader implications on society and opportunities for underrepresented groups will continue to unfold.