The Supreme Court's dismantling of affirmative action earlier this year sent chills down the spines of higher education and K12 leaders alike over fears that students won't have equal access to college. New data from the U.S. Department of Education reveals just how widespread the practice was.
Despite the firm resolve of institutions to maintain similar student diversity benchmarks, nearly half (45%) said they were concerned about the difficulty of recruiting and retaining a diverse body, according to a new report by Acuity Insights.
The Department of Education released a directive to help institutions understand exactly what admission are unconstitutional and what is perfectly fine to pursue.
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 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.
Despite Supreme Court rulings on affirmative action and state efforts to defund DEI, there are integral ways higher education can maintain its mission of cultivating a culture of diverse perspectives. "Don't be led by fear," advises Dr. David Acosta, chief diversity and inclusion officer of the AAMC.