NEW YORK, NY -- The College Board released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court rulings in the University of Michigan affirmative action cases: "We are pleased that the Supreme Court today upheld the important principle that the educational benefits that flow from a diverse student body are a compelling governmental interest. While we intend to scrutinize the decisions in both cases to thoroughly examine their meaning and to help our member institutions work through the practical implications for their admissions policies and procedures, we are gratified that the Supreme Court took this courageous stand. The College Board's mission to prepare, inspire, and connect students to college success and opportunity is driven by a commitment to equity and excellence. Today's decision reaffirms the use of these intertwined goals of equity and excellence to inform college admissions decisions across the nation and to increase access to educational opportunity for all students."
In the months ahead, the College Board plans to continue work on several diversity-related projects, including a revised edition of Diversity in Higher Education: A Strategic Planning and Policy Manual. In addition, the Board recently launched a new area on this Web site called Achieving Diversity, which provides a forum for institutions to share information on ways to achieve racial/ethnic diversity on campus. During the upcoming year, the College Board will devote additional attention and resources to work with both secondary school and higher education professionals to improve educational opportunity for all students.