Resource Library

With the goal of supporting enrollment and campus leaders as they engage with colleagues and their communities on issues associated with student diversity and admissions, this guide will offer insights and guidance on how best to successfully navigate the current landscape, with a focus on key concepts, model definitions, and effective rebuttals to myths on issues associated with diversity that continue to plague our national and institutional dialogues.

College Board and EducationCounsel recently published a primer that Surfaces key issues that should be considered in the review, evaluation, and evolution of financial aid and scholarship policies, synthesizes key points of law and policy, and offers ideas regarding strategies and design models that merit consideration among policy leaders.

Presentation: This presentation will highlight claims and defenses relevant to these issues as they have been presented in the SFFA v. Harvard and SFFA v. UNC federal court cases with cross-references to the ADC’s recently published The Playbook (2d. Edition).

Presentation: This webinar outlines issues relevant to the federal court’s September 30, 2019 decision in Students for Fair Admission v. Harvard.

This practical guide provides an overview of race-and ethnicity-neutral strategies and “plays” that can advance institutional diversity interests.

This analysis of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard provides a brief overview of the case and surfaces some major legal and policy implications of the decision for the higher education community.

The ADC hosted a webinar on January 16, 2019. The webinar addressed the issues of federal non-discrimination law relevant to higher education financial aid and scholarship policies and programs. Also, the webinar discussed effective and sustainable financial aid program design, with attention to U.S. Department of Education Title VI policies and OCR case resolutions on the topic. In addition, the webinar provided insight into and offered ideas about strategies and action steps that can help achieve institutional goals, while also mitigating legal risk.

The ADC hosted a webinar on December 14th.  Presenters reflected on the recent legal landscape and provided insight regarding important actions postsecondary institutions may take to continuously build the necessary evidence base to sustain their diversity efforts.  Based on these developments, presenters offered insights into important higher education strategies that can advance mission-based institutional interests in ways that also mitigate legal risk.

This guide provides insights into the values, logic and rigor behind effective holistic review in higher education admissions. The guide discusses key features and elements of well-designed holistic review policy development and process management.

This presentation is designed to address major federal nondiscrimination laws that govern the award of financial aid and scholarships when factors like race, ethnicity, and gender are considered; and will offer examples of practices in the field that align with current federal laws and rules.

This presentation is designed to delve into the challenging issues of student inclusion and expression, with a discussion of issues that are surfacing on campuses; legal baselines that should inform judgments about how to assure inclusive campuses where free speech is appropriately valued and protected; and best practices to help prepare for and manage crises that may occur. Institutional leaders will discuss the role of colleges and universities in providing opportunities for civil discourse.

An amicus brief filed by the College Board with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the University of Texas and its defense of its admission procedures and processes consistent with the Grutter ruling in 2003. (2015)

This presentation is designed to frame key questions and suggest key evidence that can guide institutional deliberation and action for advancing education goals associated with diversity (2018).

A resource for higher education professionals to start meaningful discussions about diversity and its importation role in creating sound and just education policy.

Learn about this issue and its policy context, and explore key action steps and selected resources.

Learn about this issue and its policy context, and explore key action steps and selected resources.

Learn about this issue and its policy context, and explore key action steps and selected resources.

Learn about this issue and its policy context, and explore key action steps and selected resources.

Learn about this issue and its policy context, and explore key action steps and selected resources.

Learn about this issue and its policy context, and explore key action steps and selected resources.

Learn about this issue and its policy context, and explore key action steps and selected resources.

Learn about this issue and its policy context, and explore key action steps and selected resources.

Learn about this issue and its policy context, and explore key action steps and selected resources.

Learn about this issue and its policy context, and explore key action steps and selected resources.

Preliminary Q&A on the decision and its possible implications (2016)

The evidence guide provides an actionable roadmap—framing key questions, suggesting key kinds of evidence, and pointing to illustrative sources—that can guide institutional deliberation and action for advancing education goals associated with student diversity. The guide is a resource for institutions where race is a consideration in enrollment decisions, as well as for institutions where such practices may be prohibited. (2017)

The document provides an update on the current state of Federal law related to non-discrimination regulations in the awarding of financial aid and scholarships in higher education. It provides key takeaways past Federal circuit court cases and offers a ‘Guide to Action’ for institutions to follow to review their mission-driven financial aid and scholarship awarding practices. (2016)

This presentation was designed to do a brief overview of key elements of the US Supreme Court's ruling in the Fisher v. UT Austin case. (2016).

A review of research findings and policy implications for colleges and universities pursuing mission-driven diversity and inclusion goals. (2016)

A policy and legal “syllabus” for diversity programs at colleges and universities. (2015)

A guide to assist institutions of higher education in evaluating race- and ethnicity-neutral policies in support of the mission-related diversity goals. (2014)

Case analysis of the April 2014 U.S. Supreme Court decision against the constitutional challenge to Michigan's voter ban on the otherwise lawful use of race, ethnicity, and gender by the state and its public entities in Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration, and Immigration Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary (BAMN). (2014)

A case analysis following the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ second ruling in Fisher v. University of Texas on July 15, 2014. The decision upheld the University of Texas at Austin’s race-conscious admission policy. (2014)

A brochure that describes the Access and Diversity Collaborative. (March 2013)

An overview of the activities of the Access and Diversity Collaborative for 2009-10. (2009)

Presentation designed to provide a brief overview of key practical implications of court's decision (2014)

The Access & Diversity Collaborative 2.0 sponsors group has provided guidance on future planning and responses to the Fisher v. University of Texas case. (October 2013)

While public attention focused on Fisher v. University of Texas, another case made it to the Supreme Court docket that relates to voter initiatives that have successfully banned the use of race and ethnicity in admission in several states. This case focuses on the Michigan ban declared unconstitutional in the Michigan Sixth Circuit. (2013)

This guide provides higher education leaders with an analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Fisher decision. It provides brief background on the case, analyzes the decision itself, and frames key takeaways and policy implications for institutions of higher education. The appendix provides a chart that compares Fisher and Grutter/Gratz on foundational principles. (2013)

Answers to key questions raised by Fisher v. University of Texas. (2013)

Plan. Following the success of the original Access & Diversity Collaborative in the wake of the Michigan cases in 2004, the College Board is initiating an effort to reconstitute the Collaborative and enhance its mission in service to colleges and universities attempting to achieve their diversity enrollment goals in legally sound ways. In addition to access to materials and resources available to others, this plan encompasses a full array of special services and benefits to those who agree to affiliate as sponsors. (2013)

An Access & Diversity Collaborative policy and communications guide prepared to help higher education institutions and organizations prepare for the United States Supreme Court's upcoming Fisher v. University of Texas decision. (2013)

Article from the Recruitment & Retention in Higher Education newsletter. Offers key steps for higher education institutions to consider in preparation for the outcome of Fisher v. University of Texas. (2013)

Presentation designed to explore the FIsher case and key issues. (2012)

Key steps for higher education institutions to consider in preparation for the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Fisher v. University of Texas. (2013)

Key educational principles from amicus briefs filed in Fisher v. University of Texas. (2013)

An amicus brief filed by the College Board with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the University of Texas and its defense of its admission procedures and processes consistent with the Grutter ruling in 2003. (2012)

Federal circuit holds that Michigan’s ban on the consideration of race and gender in public university admissions is unconstitutional because the resulting political structure impermissibly burdens racial minorities. (2012)

Federal court upholds University of Texas race-conscious admissions policy as necessary and appropriate to further compelling interests associated with a diverse student body. (2012)

Presentation designed to provide legal updates, policy implication, and new professional development resources on diversity. (2012)

This publication provides school boards, school district leaders, district staff, community leaders, and parents with practical guidance on policy issues associated with student diversity. (2011)

Presentation designed to provide policies on the national and federal landscape, and federal and state developments and trends. (2011)

Provides a tool to help college and university leaders understand how to structure their recruitment, outreach, and retention programs in a manner that best achieves their diversity-related goals and minimizes legal risk. (2005)

Provides a framework to help structure and inform institution-specific reviews of race- and ethnicity-conscious financial aid and scholarship policies. (2005)

A practical tool for higher education leaders that helps guide institutional decisions regarding diversity and the use of race and ethnicity in the admission selection process. (2006)

Addresses questions regarding the future of race-conscious enrollment practices in higher education, and gives recommendations for action. (2007)

Provides initial analysis of implications for postsecondary education in the Supreme Court's student assignment decision in Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1. (2007)

Provides practical guidance for public school districts stemming from U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 and Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education. (2007)

Intended to help institutions in their efforts to lawfully achieve the educational benefits of diversity on their campuses through the use of a combination of objectively measurable race-neutral practices. (2008)

Summarizes major policy, legal, and educational trends that college and university leaders should be aware of as they shape their institutional access and diversity policies. In collaboration with the American Council on Education (ACE). (2009)

Presentation slides designed to provide effective policy development, foundations for effective leadership, engaging stakeholders and key political elements for operational guidance. (2008)

Presentation slides designed to provide federal and state law fundamentals, lessons learned from Michigan regarding goals and objectives, and enrollment policy fundamentals. (2008)

Presentation slides designed to understand and navigate access and diversity issues to advance institutional goals. (2009)

Provides guidance to institutions on access and diversity policy development through the use of model institutional policies. (2010)

Provides an overview of the Access and Diversity Collaborative's work from 2004 to 2010. (2010)

A practical guide for officials responsible for the development and implementation of student-related access and diversity polices designed to help facilitate constructive campus-based dialogs and policy discussions. (2009)