Universities in Ohio have released statements indicating that they will continue to encourage and support diversity in their student bodies after the Supreme Court ruled that race cannot be a factor in college admissions.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that race cannot be a factor in college admissions, overturning a precedent last set in Grutter v. Bollinger in 2003. The court ruled in a 6-3 decision, with the three liberal justices being in the minority.
Institutions across the country have included race-based admission programs to increase admissions for people in marginalized groups. Many states outlawed this practice, but it was still common at some of the best universities in the country.
Kent State University President Todd Diacon sent a statement to the community stating that their commitment to providing "opportunities of a students-first education at Kent State is unwavering."
“With kindness and respect, we will continue to encourage and support a diverse student body across all our campuses,” Diacon said.
In the statement, Diacon said that last week, a team from three different universities visited Kent State to assess their enrollment practices, and it concluded the university “truly creates a sense of belonging.”
“One thing is clear: This Supreme Court outcome will not affect our deep commitment to access and completion for all Kent State students,” Diacon concluded.
Baldwin Wallace University officials said they have a leadership team reviewing how the institution will adapt to the changes in the best way to serve their students.
“Baldwin Wallace is distinctively tied to the values of diversity and inclusion in all its forms,” said Shawn Salamone, director of Public Information at Baldwin Wallace. “We remain dedicated to build upon that legacy as a core strength that benefits every member of our campus community.”
University of Akron President Gary Miller also sent a statement prepared before the decision was made. In the statement, Miller said changes to race-based admissions will not change the admission processes for the institution and it will stick to "a holistic approach" when considering students for admission.
"In essence - we admit students who demonstrate their potential to be successful at our university and do not measure success using a racial metric in that assessment," Miller said.
Miller also sent a statement to the campus community stating the institution will continue to work within the law to provide opportunities for faculty, staff and students having the "broadest array of backgrounds and experiences."
"We are committed to this goal because diversity in its broadest form is integral to the core of higher education," Miller concluded.
The Ohio State University Director, Media and PR Chris Booker said the university is reviewing the decision and "evaluating impacts." Booker said Ohio State will make any necessary changes to continue to follow state and federal laws regarding admissions and any updates will be shared with the University community and posted on their website.
The institution sent a message to their community on June 20 in preparation of the Supreme Court decision. In the message, The Ohio State University said they had been monitoring the court case and were planning for potential policy changes.
"Right now, we expect any changes to admissions to go into effect immediately and to be forward-looking, without impacting our current students place at the university," said the statement.
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