"We are gratified that this
decision unambiguously respects more than four decades of U.S. Supreme Court
precedent. Finding that ‘Harvard’s interest in student body diversity is
substantial and compelling,’ the court emphasized that the university has followed
the high court’s standard that race and ethnicity can be considered within a
narrowly tailored framework as one factor in a holistic admissions review. It
was only about three years ago when the Supreme Court issued its latest ruling
in the area of race-conscious admissions in Fisher II, which also underscored
the autonomy U.S. colleges and universities have to define the intangible
characteristics, like student body diversity, that are central to each
institution's identity and educational mission.
Today’s ruling is especially gratifying because it occurs against a backdrop of
continuing attacks on what remains the settled law of the land in this area. As
the amicus brief filed by ACE and 36 other higher education groups opposing the
challenge to the ‘Harvard model’ of holistic admissions review noted: ‘this
lawsuit is nothing more than the first step in a backdoor attempt to achieve
the sweeping relief sought—and denied—in Fisher II: the end of the
consideration of race in college admissions and the restriction of a
university’s ability to assemble a diverse student body.’
We applaud this
ruling and are confident that the nation’s courts, including its highest court,
will continue to uphold the vital principle that colleges and universities that
choose to do so can consider race as one factor in reviewing applicants to
achieve the goal of a talented, diverse incoming class.”