WASHINGTON, D.C. – The new federal guidance on the use of race in college admissions may not constitute new legal doctrine, but it still represents an “important political signal” that the Obama administration is supportive of efforts to diversify America’s colleges and universities.
That is the reaction among a chorus of diversity proponents and a college admissions official on the guidance issued jointly last week by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice.
“We could just as easily have an administration that is hostile to the higher education community’s effort to diversify students, faculty and the community,” said Barmak Nassirian, associate executive director for external relations at the American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers.
“It is obviously happy news when you have an administration that supports our efforts,” Nassirian continued. “That’s a very practical impact. That’s not insignificant.”
Shirley J. Wilcher, executive director of the American Association for Affirmative Action, voiced similar laudatory remarks for the guidance.
“This is important because an institution doesn’t want to run afoul of the federal government or incur an investigation because it has not properly interpreted a Supreme Court decision,” Wilcher said. “That’s why colleges and universities were waiting to hear how this administration was going to interpret the law as it relates to diversity.”
“And it has in a way that—at least in our view—is consistent with the (Supreme Court’s) decision in Grutter and Gratz.” Wilcher added.
