Supreme Court Strikes Race-Based Admissions

Supreme Court Ruling on Affirmative Action

This week, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued an opinion limiting the consideration of race as a factor in the college admissions process at Harvard College and University of North Carolina, upending over 40 years of precedent. In light of the decision, Governors State University reaffirms its commitment to sustaining a diverse student body as evidenced by our status as a minority-serving institution (MSI) and emerging Hispanic serving institution (HSI).

As a regional public institution, GSU has not relied on race-based admissions practices, yet has built and sustained an extraordinarily diverse student body. In addition to drawing students from the Chicago Southland, GSU draws students nationally and internationally. The U.S. Department of Education has recognized GSU as both a minority-serving institution, an accredited academic institution whose enrollment of a single minority or a combination of minorities exceeds 50 percent of the total enrollment, and an emerging Hispanic serving institution, meaning full-time Hispanic student enrollment is between 15 and 24 percent. Race is only one element of GSU’s diversity, where Black students are 40 percent of the student body and Hispanic students are 19 percent. The average age of GSU’s undergraduate student body was 27.5 in 2022.  Students from all walks of life are welcomed and empowered to succeed.

GSU’s mission is to provide an excellent, accessible education. One of the ways it does so is by offering one of the lowest tuition rates of any Illinois public institution of higher education. Another way it does so is by attracting and retaining a diverse work force of educators. 

 For those institutions that may have relied on race as one factor to increase their student body’s diversity, SCOTUS’ decisions this week come as a disappointment. GSU shares in this disappointment but remains steadfast in its commitment to sustaining its diverse student body and its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The decisions will not negatively impact GSU’s recruiting or enrollment practices in any way whatsoever.