Harold O. Levy Recommends Alternatives for Maintaining Diversity
In a new opinion piece published by The Hill, our executive director discusses how admissions preferences for low-income students could support racial and socioeconomic diversity. As a potential Supreme Court ruling in Fisher v. University of Texas could end affirmative action, it is critical to consider other strategies for removing the barriers talented low-income students face in the enrollment process.
Income diversity in college admissions preserves racial diversity
Race-conscious affirmative action programs in college admissions have played an important role in narrowing college enrollment gaps among whites, African-Americans and Hispanics. But these programs now face the possibility of being curtailed or even ended by a decision expected from the U.S. Supreme Court in the next few weeks.
If the high court places new limits on race-conscious affirmative action in admissions, the best way to preserve racial and ethnic diversity would be for the schools to launch aggressive programs to increase their income diversity. Since African-Americans and Hispanics are disproportionately low-income, they would benefit most from such a move.
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