How the Supreme Court’s ruling on Michigan affirmative action affects colleges; Washington Post, 4/23/14

Nick Anderson, Washington Post; How the Supreme Court’s ruling on Michigan affirmative action affects colleges:

"The new Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action leaves in place, for now, a system that allows public universities in Maryland, Virginia and many other states to consider race and ethnicity in admissions.

But the ruling adds momentum to a movement that seeks to end racial preferences in college admissions, not only in Michigan but throughout the country.

The court Tuesday upheld Michigan’s ban on the use of race as a factor in admissions to state universities. It was the second major affirmative-action ruling concerning higher education in less than a year: In a June ruling on a Texas case, the court ordered tighter scrutiny of race-conscious admissions, preserving the principle that affirmative action is permissible in some circumstances.

The upshot: Colleges in several states with affirmative-action bans, including California and Washington state, must continue to use colorblind admissions. Those in states without bans must be prepared to justify why consideration of race is essential for assembling a diverse class."