Diversity in Education: The U.S. Supreme Court Got It Wrong

Abstract

ABSTRACT Diversity has repeatedly been shown to be a vital part of education. This paper explores the benefits and importance of diversity in education and presents studies and supporting research. In the case Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, the United States Supreme Court found that race-based affirmative action in college admissions is unconstitutional because it violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which prohibits discrimination based on race. As colleges and universities are trying to be more inclusive and varied, the Supreme Court’s finding just made it more difficult for colleges to secure a diverse population which will hurt education and likely lead to an adverse outcome for society. Diversity has many important benefits and is especially advantageous in education. Diversity increases creativity, critical thinking, helps reduce achievement gaps, and improves academic performance, student motivation, and intellectual engagement. Increasing diversity can increase empathy, appreciation of other cultures, and can help create a sense of community on campus. It can also help create inclusive attitudes and respect for others, can aid in removing biases and stereotypes, and can help prepare students for careers in an increasingly interconnected world. When weighing the benefits of diversity against what is actually written in the law, it seems the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court made the wrong decision.