The Supreme Court's rulings this summer had strong implications for a recent survey by TimelyCare. More than half of students reported stress or anxiety around its decisions on striking down affirmative action (53%) and denying Biden's student loan forgiveness (60%). Students submitted responses in July 2023, when the rulings were still top of mind.
"The higher education system is broken," said Colorado College President Song Richardson at the Department of Education's summit discussing the end of affirmative action.
The number of Pell-eligible and first-generation students has increased by 10% or more since Johns Hopkins University stopped legacy admissions in 2013.
"FAFSA Simplification is going to make this the most complicated year we have seen perhaps ever," says Maureen Anderson, a former director of financial aid at Santa Fe College (Fla.). In addition, there are Title IX changes coming in October.
FAS found that only about 25% of institutions are satisfied with existing financial aid services. Recent national developments will only exacerbate the problem.
Presidents, provosts and non-profits worry how the Supreme Court's decision will affect diversity in STEM, deplete liberal arts education's value and hurt our society as a whole.
From 2012 to 2020, the Hispanic population has increased by 26% in states where affirmative action has already been banned. However, their flagship universities' Hispanic student body has averaged only a 4% increase.
At least 78% of higher education institutions have already extended these policies through fall 2024 in anticipation of the pending U.S. Supreme Court decision on affirmative action.
The NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 63% of U.S. adults believe the U.S. Supreme Court should not block colleges from considering race or ethnicity in its admissions process.
