Supreme Court to Restrict Consideration of Race in College Admissions

SMC Community:

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to restrict consideration of race in college admissions, in a decision that undoes decades of admissions policies that sought to promote campus diversity and ultimately create equal opportunity in employment. We at Santa Monica College are aligned with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office which issued a joint statement alongside the California State University and the University of California. This statement—provided below in its entirety—highlights our collective commitment to continue to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion and our ultimate goal to create a more just, equitable world through higher education.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian, PhD, University of California President Michael V. Drake, MD, and California State University Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester, PhD, made the following statement today (Thursday, June 29) regarding the SCOTUS decision on the use of race in college admissions:

“As leaders of California’s public higher education institutions, we are disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision this week to prohibit the use of race in college admissions. The benefits of campus diversity are clear: It leads to higher quality education for all by reflecting a plurality of ideas and perspectives, and it results in increased community benefit when diverse graduates enter the workforce.

Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are core values at our institutions. We will continue to support programs and practices that seek to address historical inequities and ensure that our colleges and universities are reflective of California’s rich and dynamic diversity. We remain committed to creating educational opportunities for all Californians so that they can reach their full potential and so that all California communities can thrive.”

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Kathryn E. Jeffery, Ph.D. 
Superintendent/President