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Rockbridge area colleges are expecting to be able to maintain diversity in the composition of their student bodies in spite of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling striking down race-based admissions practices.
Washington and Lee University’s “commitment to diversity … rooted in our mission … remains unchanged,” said W&L President Will Dudley in a statement sent to students, faculty and staff in the wake of the ruling. Similar sentiments were expressed by spokespersons for Virginia Military Institute and Southern Virginia University.
In a 6-3 decision issued June 29, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a case involving admissions practices at the University of North Carolina and Harvard University, ruled that race could not be used as a factor in determining whether students are admitted to colleges and universities.
Responding to the ruling, Dudley said, “We are a better educational institution in virtue of our students, faculty and staff contributing a wide variety of perspectives and life experiences to our campus. And our graduates are better prepared to lead lives of consequence in a diverse world in virtue of having been educated at a diverse university. Striving to fulfill our mission to the very best of our ability, we will continue working to attract and support the success of an increasingly diverse community at W&L.”
Although the ruling doesn’t change the university’s efforts to maintain a diverse student body, the court “has changed the legally permissible means by which [W&L] pursues this objective,” Dudley acknowledged. “We will comply fully with the law, and we will continue to evaluate applicants on the basis of a host of factors – including their academic accomplishments, extracurricular talents, demonstrated leadership and strength of character – that are indicative of their ability to benefit from and contribute to the university.”
The ruling won’t affect VMI’s policy on admissions, according to Bill Wyatt, the institute’s director of communications and marketing. “VMI does not consider race in its admissions decisions,” he said. “We admit applicants who have a strong academic, leadership, athletic and extra-curricular record regardless of race.” He noted that 24 percent of VMI’s corps of cadets identifies as a “race other than white.”
In a press release issued by SVU, a spokesperson said the university’s mission “is to gather, lift and launch faithful Latter-day Saints and like-minded students. We remain committed to this mission and focused on providing an inviting, safe and welcoming experience for students from all backgrounds and walks of life. Since the gospel net gathers ‘of every kind’ (Matthew 13:47), so do we. Based on our current admissions practices, including high acceptance rates and rolling admissions, we expect our mix of racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds to increase in the coming years.
“Within the bounds of the law, we will continue to provide opportunities for higher learning with higher standards to any student who will sincerely strive to live our code of conduct. Our Savior Jesus Christ taught us to ‘love one another.’ (John 13:34–35). Together, we will work to build a university community that aspires to this ideal without prejudice, condemnation or contention of any kind.”
Dudley said W&L “will adjust our admissions policies and practices to be fully compliant with the newly reinterpreted law of the land. But we will never be dissuaded from our mission. Diversity of life experiences and perspectives makes us a better university, and we will continue using all legally permissible means to attract and support an increasingly diverse campus community in the pursuit of educational excellence.”
