Duke Joins in Brief Supporting Consideration of Race in Admissions

Duke was among 14 universities to file an amicus brief Monday with the U.S. Supreme Court in a case that challenges the use of race as a criterion in undergraduate admissions.In their brief supporting the use of race as one factor in admissions decisions, the 14 universities say they "speak with one voice to the profound importance of a diverse student body -- including racial diversity -- for their educational missions." They say they "recognized long ago that admissions by purely numerical factors such as grade-point averages and standardized test scores would not effectively accomplish their broader educational missions."In their brief, the universities say "a diverse student body adds significantly to the rigor and depth of students' educational experience. Diversity encourages students to question their own assumptions, to test received truths, and to appreciate the spectacular complexity of the modern world. This larger understanding prepares ... graduates to be active and engaged citizens wrestling with the pressing challenges of the day, to pursue innovation in every field of discovery, and to expand humanity's learning and accomplishment."The brief notes that none of the 14 universities uses race or ethnicity as a classification in its admissions policies, nor are any seats in their freshman classes reserved for applicants of any race or ethnic background. Rather, their admissions policies, by considering many different factors such as backgrounds, talents, experiences, race and first generation in college, "are designed to foster excellence through the admission of a class diverse in multiple dimensions."The case was brought by Abigail Fisher, a white applicant who sued the University of Texas at Austin in 2008 after being denied admission. She claims the consideration of race by the University of Texas is unconstitutional and in violation of federal civil rights statutes. The court is scheduled to hear arguments in the case Oct. 10. "The amicus brief Duke has joined provides a compelling articulation of how diversity enriches education," said Duke President Richard H. Brodhead. "Students have to think more deeply when their perspectives are challenged by a host of different ones. In class and out, interacting with highly talented peers from all walks of life prepares students to be thoughtful, effective participants in a complex, diverse modern society. Duke's admission system serves these vital features of our educational mission by assessing students holistically, across many dimensions, for their potential to contribute to our academic community and the world."Joining Duke in filing the brief were Brown, the University of Chicago, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Yale.