Supreme Court Strikes Down Affirmative Action Policies at Harvard and UNC

What’s going on:      

The Supreme Court has made a landmark ruling against affirmative action policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, according to NBC News. The decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, was split 6-3 along conservative-liberal lines.   

Why it matters:     

This Supreme Court’s ruling has the potential to not only reshape the entire landscape of higher education in the U.S., but it could also influence diversity hiring goals among businesses, according to Bloomberg. Last year, Alphabet Inc’s Google, Meta Platforms Inc. and Apple Inc. were among nearly 80 companies that filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the universities’ affirmative action program. The brief argued that the ruling would impact their pipeline of highly qualified workers and business leaders.  

Affirmative action policies have been used as a tool to address historical racial disparities in education and employment. With this ruling, colleges and universities may need to reassess their admission processes and diversity initiatives. This could potentially impact the racial composition of student bodies and subsequently, the future workforce. 

How it’ll impact the future:       

The Supreme Court’s decision could lead to a decrease in diversity within colleges and universities, which could then translate into less diversity within various industries and sectors. This could potentially exacerbate racial disparities in the workforce. However, it’s important to note that while the ruling bars race as a factor in admissions, it does not limit institutions’ outreach, engagement, retention, or completion strategies aimed at enrolling diverse student bodies.

The future workforce could see a shift in its demographic composition due to this ruling. If colleges and universities are unable to maintain diverse student bodies, this could result in fewer opportunities for minority students to enter certain fields, leading to less diverse workplaces.  

Beyond the direct impact on the racial composition of the workforce, this ruling could also influence the broader conversation around diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Companies may need to reassess their own diversity initiatives and hiring practices in light of this decision.