The White House underscored its “commitment to advancing equity and equal opportunity” in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to take up a pair of race-based admissions cases.
Justices said they would hear challenges to policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina that factor students’ race, among several other criteria, to decide who should be granted admission to the universities. Psaki referred questions about the case to the Department of Justice but highlighted the administration’s support for affirmative action.
SUPREME COURT TO CONSIDER HARVARD AND UNC AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICIES
“We strongly believe, this administration, in the benefits of diversity in higher education, and we take very seriously our commitment to advancing equity and equal opportunity for historically underserved populations,” she said.
The Department of Justice declined to comment when reached by the Washington Examiner.
The challenges were brought by the conservative nonprofit group Students for Fair Admissions. Race-based affirmative action has been a common practice to help boost admission chances for disadvantaged racial minorities since the 1960s. In the case against Harvard, petitioners argue the same practices have disproportionately harmed Asian American applicants. The University of North Carolina is one of the nation’s leading public universities.
Although Harvard is a private institution, Students for Fair Admissions has challenged the school because it receives federal funding and has accused the school’s policies of violating civil rights law by discriminating on the basis of race.
Psaki pointed to several Biden administration policies and actions that showcase its support for the concept.
“On day one, the president signed an executive order launching an ambitious whole-of-government response to center equity throughout the government’s work, throughout the Department of Education,” she added. “The administration has provided historic investments and support for historically black colleges and universities, tribal colleges and universities, and minority serving institutions, such as Hispanic serving institutions.”
The support totals nearly $21 billion, according to Psaki.
She also noted that the White House has worked to protect student civil rights and equal opportunity, issuing guidance about schools’ obligations to investigate and address claims of discrimination and harassment.
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Last month, President Joe Biden’s administration urged the Supreme Court to reject the challenge to Harvard’s affirmative action policy.
The case will likely be heard during the session beginning in October, with a decision by June 2023.
