WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is telling colleges and universities they can continue to seek diversity in admissions despite a Supreme Court ruling that potentially opens the door to challenges.
The Education Department guidance, released today, stems from a June Supreme Court ruling in an affirmative action case that challenged the University of Texas admission plan. The 7-1 ruling said a court should approve the use of race as a factor in admissions only after it concludes “that no workable race-neutral alternatives would produce the educational benefits of diversity.” Civil rights advocates celebrated that the door on affirmative action had not been slammed shut.
But the decision could embolden challengers who feel they’ve been discriminated against.
An Education Department official says achieving diversity on campuses leads to diverse workplaces.
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