Freshman Class After Supreme Court Decision Disproves Theory of ‘Race-Based’ Admissions: Expert
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s freshman class saw a slight dip in the percentage of Black students, from 5.4% to 4.9%, while the percentage of Hispanic students increased slightly from 15% to 15.9%. The institution is committed to diversity and inclusion. (Photo credit: WBEZ)
New Data Shows Mixed Results
New numbers from two major Illinois universities show little change in enrollment demographics since the Supreme Court effectively banned the consideration of race in college admissions last year.
Contrary to Fears, No Devastating Impact
Many had worried that the decision in the case, brought by conservative legal activist Ed Blum and his group Students for Fair Admissions, could cause a precipitous drop in the representation of Black and Latino students at highly selective colleges. However, now that the first freshmen to be admitted under the new legal precedent have started class, enrollment data from their universities, including local schools like Northwestern University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, are showing mixed results.
Mixed Results From Local Universities
At Northwestern, 15% of this year’s freshman class identifies as Black, up from 14% last year. The percentage identifying as Hispanic or Latino is 18%, up from 17% in the previous year. Northwestern officials stated that the Supreme Court ruling did not change the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“We are intensifying strategic efforts that have helped us enroll historically diverse classes in recent years,” said Stacey Kostell, Northwestern’s vice president and dean of enrollment. “That includes financial aid packages that meet 100% of every student’s demonstrated need without loans, as well as initiatives to ensure families understand our full range of affordability measures and student support resources.”
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Freshman Class
At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the percentage of freshmen who identify as Black dipped slightly from 5.4% to 4.9%, and the percentage who identify as Hispanic rose slightly from 15% to 15.9%.
“As we welcome our largest class in university history, we are at a point of transition for our university,” said Kevin Jackson, vice provost for undergraduate education. “Our new approach is more representative of a student’s entire identity and is a better reflection of the world in which we live.”
Expert’s Take on the Data
James Murphy, policy director for the nonprofit Education Reform Now, warned that journalists, administrators, and advocates should be cautious when interpreting the new enrollment data in relation to the race-conscious admissions ruling. “There are a lot of concerns,” he said. “The big one is that it’s very early, right? So the data that’s been released is preliminary data from colleges. These numbers are going to change as students inevitably go from not identifying their race on their application to identifying their race upon enrollment. And probably the most important concern of all: it’s a single year.”
Conclusion
The data from these Illinois universities suggests that the Supreme Court’s decision has not had a devastating impact on the representation of Black and Latino students at highly selective colleges. However, as James Murphy, policy director for Education Reform Now, advised, we should be cautious when interpreting this data, as it is only preliminary and subject to change in the coming years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the outcome of the Supreme Court’s decision on race-based admissions?
A: The Supreme Court effectively banned the consideration of race in college admissions.
Q: What was the expected outcome of the decision, according to many experts?
A: Many experts and organizations had predicted that the decision would lead to a decline in the representation of Black and Latino students at highly selective colleges.
Q: What are the results from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Northwestern University?
A: The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s freshman class saw a slight dip in the percentage of Black students, from 5.4% to 4.9%, while the percentage of Hispanic students increased slightly from 15% to 15.9%. At Northwestern, 15% of this year’s freshman class identifies as Black, up from 14% last year, and 18% identifies as Hispanic or Latino, up from 17% in the previous year.
