The Supreme Court and Affirmative Action: A Survey of College Presidents
Survey
Oct. 2023
Sample Size:
136
Demographics:
administrators
Topics:
Diversity And Inclusion
Top Findings:
- More than two-thirds of presidents oppose the recent Supreme Court decision on affirmative action. Further, nearly half of presidents strongly oppose the decision (46 percent). Only 17 percent somewhat or strongly support the decision.
- Just 7 percent of presidents think the decision will result in changes in their institution’s admissions policies. Of these few presidents, more than half indicate that their institution is prepared for those changes (60 percent). Presidents from private nonprofit institutions (14 percent) are significantly more likely than those from public institutions (1 percent) to indicate that the decision will result in changes in their institution’s admissions policies.
- More than half of presidents believe the decision will result in fewer minority students being admitted to competitive institutions than in the past. However, presidents largely feel as though their institution will maintain its current level of diversity under the decision (86 percent). Very few feel that their institution will not maintain its current level of diversity (4 percent).
- Very few presidents are very or extremely optimistic about essay questions or interviews being able to help institutions achieve diversity in the new legal environment (7 percent). Most presidents are either slightly (32 percent) or moderately (40 percent) optimistic about this solution. More than one in five (21 percent) are not at all optimistic about this solution.