OXFORD -- The Supreme Court has sent a Texas case on race-based college admissions back to a lower court for another look.
The court's 7-1 decision Monday leaves unsettled many of the basic questions about the continued use of race as a factor in college admissions.
Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the court, says a federal appeals court needs to subject the University of Texas admission plan to the highest level of judicial scrutiny.
"To me it's really important," said Miami University Freshman Carol Zhang who believes in the importance of Affirmative Action. "I think that stuff help me a lot when I was admitted to the university, My score doesn't define what is me."
While schools like Sinclair and Wright State are very open to who they allow, Miami and Ohio State universities both tell us there are a lot more factors they look at when accepting applicants, and diversity just happens to be one of them."
âWe are very pleased that the Supreme Court has reaffirmed that achieving the educational benefits of student body diversity is a compelling interest for The Ohio State University and institutions of higher education across the country. Diversity is a strategic pillar for our university. It is a tangible asset that fosters intellectual and social growth and serves as our foundation for building a global learning environment for our students.," said Joseph Alutto, executive vice president and provost at The Ohio State University. âFollowing todayâs outcome, Ohio State will continue the careful review of its efforts to identify and build a range of strategies that fulfill its responsibility as a land-grant university to provide broad opportunities for access and student success.â
"The University of Dayton takes into account each applicant's entire profile so we may create a better representation of the world in which we live and a holistic experience at UD," said University of Dayton officials.
"If we don't create an educational environment that allows our students to be successful we are really doing a disservice to our student," said Miami University Associate VP of enrollment management Dr. Michael Kabbaz.
That's because studies have shown diversity in the classroom enhances the educational environment, but it's not just racial diversity.
"You have to make a priority for to be diversified and if it's absolutely necessary you can choose diversity but they have to have something else to bring to the table if their academics aren't as good to have to bring something else to the table whether it be a different perspective or different ideas in general," said Miami University Junior Rhea Johnson.
Miami University has made a conscious effort to increase diversity going from 6% to 13 % minorities in the last 10 years. Dr. Kabbaz says if the Supreme court ever takes race out of the application process, it will be hard to see that kind of minority growth on campus.
"We provide a holistic admission process basically the question for us is how does he or she contribute to a diverse educational environment and that's how we make our decisions," said Kabbaz. "Diversity of thought, urban, rural. Very few students are the same. Students coming from rural Southeast Ohio is different from a student from suburban Columbus versus the applicant from Chicago or China."
"Some of the universities probably pay more attention to what do you do an after-school time and what sports do you play what diversity can you bring to the campus," said Zhang."
In this last week of their term, the supreme court will also be ruling on same sex marriage and voting rights, and we'll of course have it all covered for you.
Connect with ABC 22/FOX 45 Reporter Wale Aliyu on Facebook and Twitter.
The court's 7-1 decision Monday leaves unsettled many of the basic questions about the continued use of race as a factor in college admissions.
Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the court, says a federal appeals court needs to subject the University of Texas admission plan to the highest level of judicial scrutiny.
"To me it's really important," said Miami University Freshman Carol Zhang who believes in the importance of Affirmative Action. "I think that stuff help me a lot when I was admitted to the university, My score doesn't define what is me."
While schools like Sinclair and Wright State are very open to who they allow, Miami and Ohio State universities both tell us there are a lot more factors they look at when accepting applicants, and diversity just happens to be one of them."
âWe are very pleased that the Supreme Court has reaffirmed that achieving the educational benefits of student body diversity is a compelling interest for The Ohio State University and institutions of higher education across the country. Diversity is a strategic pillar for our university. It is a tangible asset that fosters intellectual and social growth and serves as our foundation for building a global learning environment for our students.," said Joseph Alutto, executive vice president and provost at The Ohio State University. âFollowing todayâs outcome, Ohio State will continue the careful review of its efforts to identify and build a range of strategies that fulfill its responsibility as a land-grant university to provide broad opportunities for access and student success.â
"The University of Dayton takes into account each applicant's entire profile so we may create a better representation of the world in which we live and a holistic experience at UD," said University of Dayton officials.
"If we don't create an educational environment that allows our students to be successful we are really doing a disservice to our student," said Miami University Associate VP of enrollment management Dr. Michael Kabbaz.
That's because studies have shown diversity in the classroom enhances the educational environment, but it's not just racial diversity.
"You have to make a priority for to be diversified and if it's absolutely necessary you can choose diversity but they have to have something else to bring to the table if their academics aren't as good to have to bring something else to the table whether it be a different perspective or different ideas in general," said Miami University Junior Rhea Johnson.
Miami University has made a conscious effort to increase diversity going from 6% to 13 % minorities in the last 10 years. Dr. Kabbaz says if the Supreme court ever takes race out of the application process, it will be hard to see that kind of minority growth on campus.
"We provide a holistic admission process basically the question for us is how does he or she contribute to a diverse educational environment and that's how we make our decisions," said Kabbaz. "Diversity of thought, urban, rural. Very few students are the same. Students coming from rural Southeast Ohio is different from a student from suburban Columbus versus the applicant from Chicago or China."
"Some of the universities probably pay more attention to what do you do an after-school time and what sports do you play what diversity can you bring to the campus," said Zhang."
In this last week of their term, the supreme court will also be ruling on same sex marriage and voting rights, and we'll of course have it all covered for you.
Connect with ABC 22/FOX 45 Reporter Wale Aliyu on Facebook and Twitter.