Admissions after SFFA v. Harvard and Trump 2.0

• In Event: Race and Diversity in Higher Education after Trump 2.0: Perspective from Four Books

Abstract

Objectives: [Redacted] will present key arguments from their book about college admissions and campus life following the ruling in SFFA. They will explain how the Trump administration has weaponized SFFA to justify its assault on diversity in higher education. They will also provide a “behind-the-scenes” perspective on what it was like to have to make significant last minute revisions to the book in order to address developments under Trump 2.0.
Perspectives: [Redacted] will argue that the ruling in SFFA leaves the door open for future support of race-conscious admissions by highlighting perspectives on the Supreme Court’s 1989 ruling in the case Croson v. Richmond. While the Court rejected one remedial-based defense for race-conscious admissions in the Bakke decision, Croson leaves the door open for institutions to try a different remedial defense: Justifying race-conscious programs based on historic discrimination levied by an institution itself (West-Faulcon, 2024). Croson has often been overlooked in discussions on affirmative action, but is highly relevant to the future of equitable admissions. The ruling also defends the ability of institutions to use “race-neutral” means to advance diversity, which have also been attacked by the second Trump administration.

Methods/Data: [Redacted]’s book highlights key scholarship on selective college admissions, addressing topics like standardized testing, “race-neutral” efforts to advance diversity, and inequality in non-standardized parts of college applications (e.g., letters of recommendation). The book synthesizes studies utilizing a variety of methods, from natural language processing techniques that analyze millions of college applications to legal analysis on how SFFA is not a particularly colorblind ruling. Multiple data sources are referenced, including a dataset of 6 million college applications submitted through the Common Application portal, and analysis of IPEDS data on the impact of test-optional policies adopted during the pandemic (redacted).

Results: Relevant findings include analysis of Croson that highlight the future viability of race and class-conscious admissions, how adopting test-optional policies during the pandemic was linked with an increase in Black enrollment at selective institutions, and the pervasive inequality that affects non-standardized portions of the college application. [Redacted] will discuss related policy implications related to the debate on standardized testing, as well as needed changes to the college application.

Significance: [Redacted]’s book is the first major book being published on affirmative action and college admissions following the ruling in SFFA. Given the ongoing attacks on DEI and equitable admissions, the book offers timely and critical insights on how the higher education community can and must stand up to defend access, equity, and opportunity in higher education.

Author

• Julie J. Park, University of Maryland