Affirmative Action vs. Race-Neutral Admissions: A Case Study | WSJ

Summary

The Supreme Court's recent ruling prohibits U.S. colleges from considering race in admissions, a practice that has aimed to enhance campus diversity through affirmative action for decades. Studies, particularly from California, reveal that such bans lead to significant declines in Black and Hispanic student enrollments at selective universities, pushing them toward less prestigious institutions. The holistic review processes previously used, which evaluated individual experiences along with academic metrics, are now at risk of reducing racial diversity. The future of higher education may see a regression in diversity without effective race-neutral alternatives.

Takeaways

• 😀 Affirmative action in college admissions, which considered race, has been deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
• 😀 Over 50 years of various admissions strategies aimed at increasing campus diversity have come to a significant change with this ruling.
• 😀 Nine states have already banned the consideration of race in admissions, with California being one of the first states to do so nearly 25 years ago.
• 😀 Studies show that before the ban on affirmative action, Black and Hispanic students were underrepresented at selective universities due to systemic inequalities.
• 😀 The shift to race-neutral admissions has resulted in lower enrollment rates for Black and Hispanic students in more selective institutions post-affirmative action.
• 😀 Enrollment at less selective schools increased for Black and Hispanic students, indicating a shift in where they are able to attend college.
• 😀 The loss of affirmative action has significant negative consequences for students, including lower graduation rates and less likelihood of earning STEM degrees.
• 😀 Race-neutral admissions policies can increase diversity but fail to match the levels achieved under race-based affirmative action.
• 😀 Institutions like Harvard predict that without considering race, Black and Hispanic enrollments could drop by nearly half.
• 😀 Future trends indicate potential declines in racial diversity at universities, leading to more students from these backgrounds attending less selective schools.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the transcript?

The main topic is the impact of affirmative action on college admissions in the U.S., particularly in light of recent Supreme Court rulings that prohibit the consideration of race in admissions.

How have admissions processes changed over the last 50 years?

Colleges have moved from a straightforward filtering process based on GPA and test scores to more holistic evaluations that consider a range of factors, including race, extracurricular activities, and personal experiences.

What were the historical statistics regarding Black and Hispanic student enrollment at UC Berkeley?

In the 1970s, Black and Hispanic students made up less than 5% of UC Berkeley's student population, highlighting the disparities in access to education.

What did the Supreme Court rule regarding affirmative action policies?

The Supreme Court ruled that while achieving a diverse student body is a compelling goal, specific quotas for racial admissions are unconstitutional, leading to the prohibition of race considerations in admissions processes.

What are the implications of Proposition 209 in California?

Proposition 209 banned public universities in California from considering race in admissions, resulting in a significant decline in Black and Hispanic student enrollments at more selective institutions.

What effects did the ban on affirmative action have on student outcomes?

The ban led to lower enrollment rates for Black and Hispanic students in selective universities, reduced graduation rates, and lower career earnings compared to those admitted under affirmative action.

What alternative admissions policies have been studied?

Race-neutral admissions policies, such as outreach programs and income-based criteria, have been examined, but they do not achieve the same levels of racial diversity as race-based affirmative action.

What future trends are anticipated regarding college diversity?

Without race considerations, it is expected that Black and Hispanic enrollments will decline significantly, leading to a shift toward less selective schools and potential negative ramifications for these students' educational outcomes.

How did the student population shift as a result of affirmative action bans?

After the bans, there was a cascade effect where students who would have attended more selective universities moved to moderately or less selective schools, resulting in decreased access to higher-quality education.

What findings did researchers discover about the value of attending selective universities?

Research indicated that students admitted to selective universities through affirmative action often receive greater long-term benefits, such as better job prospects and higher earnings, compared to those who replace them after the end of these programs.