Washington University released a statement responding to the June 29 Supreme Court ruling that prohibits colleges from using race as a specific consideration in admissions. (Holden Hindes | Student Life)

Chancellor Andrew Martin released a statement on June 29 on behalf of the Washington University administration in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action at higher education institutions. 

The ruling, which concluded in a 6-3 majority, curtailed the use of race in the admissions decisions of colleges and universities across the country. WashU is considered a highly selective school, with an admission rate of around 11%.  This means that the University and its admissions team are more likely to be impacted by the rulings than other institutions.

National coverage of the decision predicted that racial diversity, specifically of Black and brown students, at colleges will decrease in the coming years. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, one of the three dissenting justices, wrote that the ruling was “further entrenching racial inequality in education.” 

In an email to the University community, Martin said that while the admissions team must abide by the law, the University’s commitment to fostering a diverse student body will not change. 

“We will make necessary adjustments to ensure that we are following the law while maintaining student-body diversity as a foundational priority,” Martin wrote. 

In a comment to Student Life, Julie Flory, the Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications, said that she could not provide any additional details about exactly how the University will adjust their admissions process, instead pointing to Martin’s statement that the University was still in the process of “reviewing the Supreme Court’s decision.” 

While the ruling declared that college admissions teams can no longer specifically take race into account, they can still assess how race has impacted a student’s life if the student chooses to write about it in their application. 

WashU staunchly defended its affirmative action policies during the court’s deliberation. In June, the University filed an amici curiae brief, translated from Latin as “friend of the court,” along with 14 other higher education institutions, including six of the eight Ivy Leagues. In the court filing, they elaborated on their admission policies, asserting that race was an essential component in the creation of a diverse educational environment. 

“For many applicants, their race or ethnicity has influenced their ideas, experiences, and perspectives — sometimes profoundly,” the brief stated.  “Recognizing that does not mean embracing the canard that all applicants are affected by their race in the same way; it means acknowledging the simple truth that race can and does affect applicants in many different ways.” 

While the June Supreme Court ruling declared that college admissions teams can no longer specifically take race into account, they can still assess how race has impacted a student’s life if the student chooses to write about it in their application. 

Toward the end of his statement, Martin specifically addressed “students from diverse backgrounds.” 

“To our current and prospective students from diverse backgrounds, our message is this: We want you here. We need you here,” Martin wrote. “We will not waver in our commitment to creating a community where all of our students are welcome, included, and supported on your paths to success.”