Universities respond to SCOTUS affirmative action ruling; Harvard pledges to discover workaround.

Harvard University Complies with Supreme Court Ruling on Affirmative Action

Harvard University has announced its compliance with the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that found its admissions system in violation of the Civil Rights Act. However, the institution has also indicated its intention to search for a loophole that would allow it to consider race in the admissions process.

The Supreme Court voted against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina’s (UNC) affirmative action policies, with a decision that will have a profound impact on university admissions nationwide. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a Harvard graduate and former board member, recused herself from the Harvard case.

The Court ruled that Harvard’s race-based admissions programs violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, while the UNC programs violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

“The Court held that Harvard College’s admissions system does not comply with the principles of the equal protection clause embodied in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act,” Harvard University stated in a news release. “The Court also ruled that colleges and universities may consider in admissions decisions ‘an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life,’ be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise. We will certainly comply with the Court’s decision.”

The institution further emphasized the importance of diversity in education, stating, “We write today to reaffirm the fundamental principle that deep and transformative teaching, learning, and research depend upon a community comprising people of many backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences. That principle is as true and important today as it was yesterday. So too are the abiding values that have enabled us—and every great educational institution—to pursue the high calling of educating creative thinkers and bold leaders, of deepening human knowledge, and of promoting progress, justice, and human flourishing.”

A group called Students for Fair Admissions filed a lawsuit against these elite schools, accusing them of unfairly considering race in their admissions processes. The group highlighted the high test scores of Asian-American and white applicants who were rejected.

Students for Fair Admissions argued that Harvard violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination by federally funded schools. In the case of UNC, the group accused the institution of violating the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause by considering race in its admissions process.

UNC’s Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz expressed disapproval of the Supreme Court’s decision but stated that the institution would carefully review it and take necessary steps to comply with the law.

“Carolina remains firmly committed to bringing together talented students with different perspectives and life experiences and continues to make an affordable, high-quality education accessible to the people of North Carolina and beyond,” Guskiewicz said.

Mairead Elordi contributed to this report.

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