Universities and colleges in Pennsylvania said Thursday’s ruling by the Supreme Court to strike down affirmative action in admissions should have little impact on them.
The 6-3 decision strikes down policies in universities that consider race when admitting incoming students.
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education spokesperson said the mission of state colleges and universities has always been inclusion.
“We are reviewing the Supreme Court’s ruling, which we expect will have minimal impact on PASSHE universities. The decision mostly affects universities with very limited admissions, whereas PASSSHE universities serving nearly 85,000 students are state-owned, public institutions with a mission to make higher education accessible to Pennsylvanians at the lowest possible cost.”
The University of Pittsburgh had a similar reaction, saying its focus has been on education and how diversity improves that.
Ann Cudd, Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor at the University said, “In the wake of today’s ruling, these guiding principles remain unchanged, and we are evaluating our admission practices to ensure that they continue to be inclusive, fair, and fully compliant with the law.”
Meanwhile, Penn State’s response didn’t answer questions on the potential impact of the ruling, but reiterated its commitment to a racially diverse student body.
“In the wake of today’s Supreme Court ruling, Penn State remains resolute that diversity among students, faculty and staff deepens the educational experience Penn State offers and the range of opportunities the University’s students enjoy. People with differing perspectives and from different backgrounds be they racial or ethnic, financial, geographic, or cultural, to name a few greatly contribute to the academic discourse that is vital to higher education. We remain committed to enhancing the diversity of our academic community, and believe higher education provides enormous personal, professional and societal benefits and should be accessible to students from as many different backgrounds as possible.”
