Statement by President Barry M. Maloney Re: Supreme Court Decision Barring Affirmative Action in University Admissions

“Unless our children begin to learn together, there is little hope that our people will ever learn to live together,” Thurgood Marshall once said, and my colleague here in Worcester, Holy Cross Pres. Vincent Rougeau, quoted in his recent commentary.

I’ve always held this to be true, and have been proud to serve Worcester State University, where we as a community have identified diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values. Today’s Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decision in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, and Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. University of North Carolina is therefore disappointing as it dismantles some ways that many highly selective universities have sought to achieve a racially diverse student body.

Our internal analysis suggests that the decision is unlikely to affect how we have sought to attract and retain ALANA/BIPOC (African, Latine, Asian, Native America and/or Black, Indigenous, People of Color) students. For example, we have not been using race as a factor in admissions decisions, even as degree-seeking undergraduate enrollment has increased from about 16% ALANA/BIPOC when I arrived in 2011 to more than one-third as of Fall 2022. We will be scrutinizing the decision, with assistance from the Massachusetts State Universities’ attorney, to ensure we are in full compliance, even as we continue to provide an inclusive and accessible educational opportunity and strive to achieve equitable outcomes for all of our students.

I am proud to sign onto the below statement from the Healey-Driscoll Administration regarding the SCOTUS decision, on behalf of our university.

Sincerely,

Barry M. Maloney

President

Joint statement regarding Supreme Court affirmative action ruling:

The Healey-Driscoll Administration along with Massachusetts government partners, elected officials, higher education leaders, civil rights advocates, and organizations dedicated to equity issued the following statement today regarding the United States Supreme Court’s decision in two higher education admissions cases Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, and Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. University of North Carolina:

“Massachusetts will always be welcoming and inclusive of students of color and students historically underrepresented in higher education. Today’s Supreme Court decision overturns decades of settled law. In the Commonwealth, our values and our commitment to progress and continued representation in education remain unshakable.

We will continue to break down barriers to higher education so that all students see themselves represented in both our public and private campus communities. Massachusetts, the home of the first public school and first university, will lead the way in championing access, equity, and inclusion in education.

We want to make sure that students of color, LGBTQ+ students, first generation students, and all students historically underrepresented in higher education feel welcomed and valued at our colleges and universities. Today’s decision, while disappointing, will not change our commitment to these students. We have an imperative to make sure our schools reflect our communities. Our academic competitiveness, the future of our workforce, and our commitment to equity demand we take action.”

[see https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-releases-joint-statement-in-response-to-supreme-court-decision-on-race-based-admissions]