Supreme Court Rules on Affirmative Action MS Word PDF - ...

Affirmative Action MS Word - This policy brief provides an overview of the history of affirmative action in higher education admissions and outlines the legal landscape for such programs as defined by state policies and the U.S. Supreme Court. In particular, the brief discusses the court's landmark decision in June 2003 and touches on the status of alternatives to traditional affirmative action, including "race-neutral" policies currently operating in Florida, Texas and California. (Dale DeCesare, ECS Policy Brief, Education Commission of the States, Last updated July 2003)...

Achieving Diversity: Race-Neutral Alternatives in American Education - This report from the U.S. Department of Education explores many of the options available for achieving diversity in education through race-neutral practices. The report outlines two main race-neutral alternatives: (1) "developmental approaches" designed to diversify enrollments by enriching the college applicant pipeline with more students equipped to meet entry requirements, and (2) "admissions approaches" designed to diversify student enrollments through specific admissions policies and procedures. (U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, February 2004)...

Affirmative Action and Diversity: The Beginning of the End? Or the End of the Beginning? - This report discusses the Supreme Court's recent affirmative action decisions and offers a framework for developing diversity programs. (Mark R. Killenbeck, Educational Testing Service, 2004)...

Diversity in Higher Education: A Strategic Planning and Policy Manual Regarding Federal Law in Admissions, Financial Aid, and Outreach, 2nd Edition - This manual, released through the College Board, offers guidance to help higher education institutions develop legally sound policies as they pursue their diversity-related goals. It is designed to untangle and translate legal terminology and court jargon, and help higher education leaders assess and minimize their risk of running afoul of the U.S. Constitution and federal civil rights laws. (Arthur L. Coleman and Scott R. Palmer, College Entrance Examination Board, 2004)...

Standing Our Ground: A Guidebook for STEM Educators in the Post-Michigan Era - How can programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) ensure diversity after the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court cases setting boundaries on affirmative action? This report offers a primer on affirmative action, and addresses the theoretical and practical issues to consider when designing a racially-diverse STEM program, including (1) institutional mission; (2) program intent, character, target population and context; (3) faculty recruitment and retention; and (4) leadership. Among the observations: the change potentially needed for a diverse STEM program must come from the top down as well as from the bottom up, which in turn requires clear and open communication. Readers may also browse the report by chapter (bottom of page). (Shirley M. Malcom, Daryl E. Chubin and Jolene K. Jesse, American Association for the Advancement of Science and National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, October 2004)...

Closing The Gap?: Admissions & Enrollments at the Texas Public Flagships Before and After Affirmative Action - This new Princeton University study finds that the Texas policy guaranteeing admission to state public universities for students in the top 10% of their high school class is not an effective substitute for affirmative action programs. According to this study, such "percentage plans" must be coupled with vigorous outreach programs and financial support for needy students, to meet the goal of diversifying selective universities. (Marta Tienda, Kevin T. Leicht, Teresa Sullivan, Michael Maltese and Kim Lloyd, Princeton University, January 2003)...

Socioeconomic Status, Race/Ethnicity, and Selective College Admissions - This paper focuses on admissions into the nation's most selective undergraduate institutions. It studies the effect of replacing traditional affirmative action programs with a variety of other policies, including: percentage plans, percentage plans with a standardized test requirement and a system of preferences targeted at low-income students. The paper concludes that the use of percentage plans alone will greatly increase the dropout rates of admitted students. (Anthony P. Carnevale and Stephen J. Rose, The Century Foundation, March 2003)...