Naval academy

In a 6-3 ruling on Thursday, June 29, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the use of race in college admissions at Harvard and the University of North Carolina, outlawing the use of race in college admissions in general. The Conversation reached out to three legal scholars to explain what the decision means for students, colleges and universities, and ultimately the nation’s future.

Kimberly Robinson, Professor of Law at the University of Virginia

• The research, however, shows that the ban could potentially harm many college students and ultimately the United States.
• Robust research shows how students who engage with students from different racial backgrounds experience educational benefits, such as cognitive growth and development and creating new ideas.
• The nation’s elite colleges, such as Harvard and the University of North Carolina, educate a disproportionately high share of America’s leaders.
• For instance, students who attend them are statistically more likely to graduate and be admitted to professional and graduate programs.

Kristine Bowman, Professor of Law and Education Policy, Michigan State University

• This reversal was not unexpected, but it will have profound implications for building and maintaining diverse and inclusive colleges and universities, particularly among selective institutions.
• In the 10 states that have had affirmative action bans in admissions, diversity in selective institutions has declined.
• Research hasn’t shown that these efforts will result in as much diversity at selective colleges as race-conscious college admissions.
• These efforts, however, now stand as a critical way forward to keep America’s elite colleges and universities diverse.

Vinay Harpalani, Associate Professor of Law, University of New Mexico

• When articulating the U.S. government’s position, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar raised the point that the military may have compelling interests beyond those that universities have.
• Specifically, the U.S. government argued that a racially diverse military officer corps was necessary for national security.
• This was not the first time that the military influenced the court’s view of race-conscious admissions.
• Twenty years ago, national security interests played a significant role in the majority opinion in Grutter v. Bollinger.
• The military is not the only place where the court has noted that security interests can justify use of race.