Area universities say ruling has no effect on admissions
Elspeth Weingarten
Issue date: 6/26/03 Section: NEWS
- Page 1 of 1
Admissions advisors at District area universities saidMonday's Supreme Court ruling in the pivotal University of Michigan lawsuit would have little or no effect on their schools' admissions processes. The decision upheld affirmative action but made illegal the school's point-based system, which gave a 20-point lead to minority applicants.
"I think they've basically upheld the status quo," said Andrew Flagel, dean of admissions at George Mason University. "I think they have supported the concept of diversity in admissions as our ideal in universities, but they have tailored it."
He was referring to the Supreme Court's decision to allow race to boost students' chances at gaining acceptance into a school - as long as admissions officers take care to scrutinize each applicant for diverse and beneficial qualities beyond race. This is the process used by the university's law school.
However, the school's undergraduate admissions system uses a point-based system that allows race to sway a decision for or against an individual's acceptance, presumably without reviewing the entire application for other qualities. This was rejected as unconstitutional. "I think we'll see few universities change admissions. Most don't use that same point system as Michigan," Flagel said. "Schools will continue affirmative action and will seek diversity since that was upheld in the case with the law school."
Flagel emphasized that the application process at George Mason does not allow for consideration of race or ethnicity."We're fortunate that we're able to enhance diversity, to attract enough people of diversity without using any sort of affirmative action," he said.
Todd Sedmak, media relations director of American University, said he could not rule out race as an influential factor to the school's admission of students, but he said race does not overwhelm other qualities.
"Diversity is important to the makeup of a university," he said. "The Supreme Court ruling affirms the American University's admissions process that AU has in effect. So this will really not have any impact on how we do business. We never had a point system and we review the entire applicant's application before accepting or denying someone....We are looking for a diverse student body and we do that in a context of what the Supreme Court said."
Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia agreed in a statement issued Monday. "Diversity in higher education is essential in order to best prepare students to successfully lead and contribute to their communities, our multicultural nation and a global society," he said.
Although the university must fully review the Supreme Court's decision to understand its implications for the school, DeGioia said university officials will continue working toward diversity in a manner "consistent with the logic and spirit of the Court's ruling."
Contact Elspeth Weingarten at district_chronicles@hotmail.com
"I think they've basically upheld the status quo," said Andrew Flagel, dean of admissions at George Mason University. "I think they have supported the concept of diversity in admissions as our ideal in universities, but they have tailored it."
He was referring to the Supreme Court's decision to allow race to boost students' chances at gaining acceptance into a school - as long as admissions officers take care to scrutinize each applicant for diverse and beneficial qualities beyond race. This is the process used by the university's law school.
However, the school's undergraduate admissions system uses a point-based system that allows race to sway a decision for or against an individual's acceptance, presumably without reviewing the entire application for other qualities. This was rejected as unconstitutional. "I think we'll see few universities change admissions. Most don't use that same point system as Michigan," Flagel said. "Schools will continue affirmative action and will seek diversity since that was upheld in the case with the law school."
Flagel emphasized that the application process at George Mason does not allow for consideration of race or ethnicity."We're fortunate that we're able to enhance diversity, to attract enough people of diversity without using any sort of affirmative action," he said.
Todd Sedmak, media relations director of American University, said he could not rule out race as an influential factor to the school's admission of students, but he said race does not overwhelm other qualities.
"Diversity is important to the makeup of a university," he said. "The Supreme Court ruling affirms the American University's admissions process that AU has in effect. So this will really not have any impact on how we do business. We never had a point system and we review the entire applicant's application before accepting or denying someone....We are looking for a diverse student body and we do that in a context of what the Supreme Court said."
Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia agreed in a statement issued Monday. "Diversity in higher education is essential in order to best prepare students to successfully lead and contribute to their communities, our multicultural nation and a global society," he said.
Although the university must fully review the Supreme Court's decision to understand its implications for the school, DeGioia said university officials will continue working toward diversity in a manner "consistent with the logic and spirit of the Court's ruling."
Contact Elspeth Weingarten at district_chronicles@hotmail.com