Affirmative Action in College Admissions: The Case for Diversity

Abstract

In June 2003, the US Supreme Court upheld the University of Michigan Law School’s admissions policy, which considers race as part of an individualized, holistic consideration of each applicant. At the same time, the court struck down the university’s undergraduate admissions policy in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, which accorded points on the basis of race. What was the basis for these holdings by the Supreme Court, and what do they mean for admissions policies in colleges of veterinary medicine that may wish to consider race in an effort to promote diversity within the student body? This article explores the legal landscape within which the court operated to decide these landmark cases and distinguishes between the two admissions policies, one of which was found to be constitutional while the other was found to violate a fundamental civil right. The article will not provide any specific guidance for colleges seeking to develop an admissions policy that considers race in an effort to promote diversity; such guidance must come from a college’s legal counsel, which can give advice that is consistent with university policy and other state and federal laws.