Will High Court Alter Affirmative Action in University Admissions?
Big companies, tech firms, STEM schools support race component to insure needed workforce diversity and skills; 18 state opponents and conservative court majority pose challenge
The U.S. Supreme Court could be poised to strike down affirmative action admission policies it has allowed public and private universities to use, in ruling on a new legal challenge—but numerous corporations, technology firms, expert groups and schools told justices that doing so would stifle the diverse recruit pipeline and needed employee skills they say is key to U.S. innovation and competitiveness.
The high court heard arguments Oct. 31 in two cases brought by the Students for Fair Admission group against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina that the challenger claims violates Constitution and US Civil Rights Act provisions that bar discrimination based on race.