Following is a statement by Association of American Universities President Mary Sue Coleman on the recent decision in the Harvard admissions case.
Yesterday’s federal court ruling in the Harvard admissions case is good news for our nation’s colleges and universities, because fostering a diverse student body is essential to a high-quality education. The court unambiguously confirmed that Harvard’s narrowly tailored consideration of race and ethnicity as one factor in its review of applicants complies with the principles the Supreme Court set out in Fisher II. As someone who has long fought for affirmative action and the value of diversity in the classroom, I applaud Harvard for its commitment to focusing on the whole person and creating and a diverse community that fosters learning in admissions. AAU is unwavering in supporting our member institutions’ commitment to the value of diverse perspectives on campus, as reflected in the amicus brief we joined in support of Harvard University.
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Founded in 1900, the Association of American Universities is composed of America’s leading research universities. AAU’s 62 research universities transform lives through education, research, and innovation.
Our member universities earn the majority of competitively awarded federal funding for research that improves public health, seeks to address national challenges, and contributes significantly to our economic strength, while educating and training tomorrow’s visionary leaders and innovators.
AAU member universities collectively help shape policy for higher education, science, and innovation; promote best practices in undergraduate and graduate education; and strengthen the contributions of leading research universities to American society.