Supreme Court Ruling Requires New Diversity Efforts

American higher education is the envy of the world. When top students around the globe decide where to study, they come here. Our institutions of higher education make America better. At the same time they are training the scientists who will cure cancer, they are also teaching young people the responsibilities of democratic citizenship in an increasingly diverse and pluralistic society, at a time when pluralism is under attack by extremists.

One of the great challenges we face is ensuring that these institutions reflect the broad diversity of America’s communities. Throughout our history and still today, that has not been the case. And unfortunately, the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action will make it harder for colleges and universities to be what our country urgently needs them to be: engines of opportunity that propel us toward a more equal society.