Oregon universities commit to inclusion as US Supreme Court strikes down affirmative action

Oregon universities are speaking out following the U.S. Supreme Court decision on affirmative action, expressing their disappointment in the opinion and vowing that their institutions will stay committed to promoting equity and inclusion.

With the decision, the high court overruled Grutter v. Bollinger, a 2003 case that allowed institutions of higher education to use race as a factor in admissions.

This latest legal challenge focused on admissions processes for Harvard College and the University of North Carolina. The ruling applies to all post-secondary schools, although it will likely most impact the Ivy League and other highly selective schools that may get tens of thousands of applications for very few openings.

Gerardo Ochoa, vice president for enrollment management and student success at the private Linfield University in McMinnville, said while universities will not be able to ask about race in the application process, students will still be able to disclose that by talking about their lived experience, which will ultimately paint a better picture of who they are and what unique experiences they can offer as students.

He and University of Oregon officials also said the opinion focuses on admission processes and doesn't appear to hinder efforts to diversify schools through tools like outreach to potential students or retention strategies for current students.

"For the colleges like Linfield that have been committed to both diversifying the student body and positive student outcomes like retention and graduation, those strategies are not going to be impacted," he said.

University of Oregon 'disappointed' in Supreme Court decision

University of Oregon interim President Jamie Moffitt and interim Provost and Executive Vice President Janet Woodruff-Borden sent out a statement on the ruling Thursday.

"We are disappointed in the decision made today by the United States Supreme Court," they stated. "The University of Oregon shares the concerns of our university peers across the nation that this ruling will impact the ability of underrepresented students to access the benefits of higher education."

However, the UO officials affirmed that the ruling will not change the university's commitment to admitting excellent students, which has supported its values of diversity, equity and inclusion.

They stated the admissions process focuses on a comprehensive review of an applicant's character, achievements and unique ability to contribute to UO, which has contributed to producing a "diverse class" of students. They do not intend to change that strategy.

The UO will continue to "seek to attract and retain underrepresented and underserved students" and provide equitable access to education.

"We are carefully reviewing the decision and will make any necessary changes to our processes to comply with the ruling while ensuring we continue to achieve our mission-driven goals of providing access, opportunity, equity and inclusion for students," they stated.

Oregon State University will continue efforts

Oregon State University President Jayathi Murthy issued a statement regarding the ruling.

"Oregon State University joins with higher education institutions across the nation in its disappointment with two U.S. Supreme Court decisions issued today," Murthy stated. "In the days and weeks ahead, OSU leaders will be actively engaged to understand what direct impact, if any, these rulings may have within Oregon State University."

Murthy affirmed that OSU will continue to admit every qualified Oregon student who applies, which is a "foundational" aspect of the university's commitment to "access, inclusivity and excellence."

"While OSU does not consider an applicant’s race or ethnicity in making admission decisions, the university strongly affirms the importance of a diverse student body to advance the university’s teaching, research and engagement mission," Murthy stated. "Embracing diversity in everything we do makes the OSU community stronger."

She stated that as a land-grant university, OSU is committed to serving populations that face systemic barriers including students of color, low-income students, first-generation students, students from rural communities, veterans and adult learners.

OSU will also continue to increase diversity by admitting international students.

Murthy added that OSU will provide more updates on the rulings on the OSU website at admissions.oregonstate.edu/scotus-admissions-ruling.

"We will continue to work with partners across the state and country to ensure equal opportunity to higher education for all," Murthy stated.

Linfield University focuses on personal experiences

Linfield President Miles K. Davis released a statement expressing his relief that personal experience can still be taken into consideration, if not race specifically.

"Recruiting, retaining and graduating our unique student population requires much more than a checkbox on an application — it requires meaningful engagement with communities in Oregon and beyond who have historically been excluded from higher education," he stated. "I’m confident that even with this ruling, Linfield’s door will remain open to underrepresented students."

According to Davis, about 61% of Linfield students are considered "new majority," which includes students of color, low-income or Pell-eligible, first-generation and community college transfer students.

Ochoa told The Register-Guard that there are other ways to ensure diversity and inclusion outside of looking at race specifically.

For the past five years, Linfield has put a focus on outreach to first-generation college students.

Since then, the percentage of incoming first-generation students has risen from about 25% to an anticipated 50% this fall, Ochoa said.

"We first have to start with realizing that the first-generation identity is invisible, and you can't tell who's first-gen by looking at someone," Ochoa said. "We have Black students, Latino students, white students, Asian American students who all are under this first-gen umbrella. They focus a lot on upbringing, on experience and adversity, and the skill sets that they bring to college, to the university campus. I'm talking about perseverance, grit. These are all the factors that we look into in a holistic admission process."

Linfield's targeted support of first-gen students includes Linfield's First Scholars program, which pairs incoming first-gen students with faculty and peers for mentorship. In 2021, First Scholars received a Beacon Award from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, recognizing its strategies to increase student retention and success.

Ochoa added that it can be a real culture shock for first-generation students coming to a university, and providing a welcoming campus culture boosts retention, reduces feelings of imposter syndrome and fosters a sense of belonging.

"We see our role as providing an opportunity for all of our learners to have opportunities to both be challenged in different ways and to have comfort also in people who are like them, and to find ways for them to find solutions that are going to be reflective of the communities that they're going to be ultimately one day serving," he said. "Institutions need to keep focused on their mission and who it is that they're serving."

Ruling will not 'significantly impact' Willamette University

Willamette University President Steve Thorsett stated that the SCOTUS ruling "will not significantly impact" the school's admissions practices.

"Willamette University does not consider race as a factor in admissions to our undergraduate or graduate programs on either our Salem or Portland campuses," Thorsett stated. "(We have) long understood that recruiting and supporting a diverse student body is essential in preparing our students to help our state and region flourish in an economically, socially and politically interconnected world."

Thorsett said Willamette will continue in its belief that "diversity in all its forms is essential" for the school's community.

Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Affirmative action decision: Oregon universities 'disappointed'