By Isaac McMahaon
Race-conscious admissions policies are essential to closing the opportunity gaps in higher education and are under assault. Now, more than ever, America must ensure equity and access to higher education for students of color because an education is the truest pathway to both success and economic mobility in the civilian workforce. This is especially true for the veteran and military community, which is significantly more racially diverse than the general population. Indeed, approximately forty-five percent of America’s enlisted Armed Forces identify as a person of color.
On February 25, 2020, The Justice Department (DOJ) filed an amicus brief in the First Circuit Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. DOJ advocated for a reversal of the district court’s decision that Harvard’s admissions policies are aligned with the precedent of the Supreme Court. On October 8, 2020, they launched yet another assault on affirmative action.
DOJ filed suit against Yale alleging that the admissions process “discriminated against applicants to Yale College on the grounds of race and national origin.” The Supreme Court permits narrowly tailored race-conscious admissions policies which will close the opportunity gaps in higher education!
To learn more, check out “Hard Truths” by The Education Trust to understand the arguments in favor of race-conscience admission policies.
Isaac McMahan is the Director of Racial Justice at Veterans Education Success.