Affirmative Action Efforts Reconsidered

TACTICAL RETREAT: Many institutions, fearing lawsuits, will abandon their affirmative action programs, predicts NACME's George Campbell, Jr. Universities are feeling the impact of recently approved anti-affirmative action initiatives that ban the consideration of a student's race in admissions decisions. Medical schools have seen a dramatic decrease in minority enrollment; grad schools also have seen a noticeable decline. In hopes of maintaining diverse student bodies, many institutions-includ

Written byStephen Hoffert

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TACTICAL RETREAT: Many institutions, fearing lawsuits, will abandon their affirmative action programs, predicts NACME's George Campbell, Jr.

Universities are feeling the impact of recently approved anti-affirmative action initiatives that ban the consideration of a student's race in admissions decisions. Medical schools have seen a dramatic decrease in minority enrollment; grad schools also have seen a noticeable decline. In hopes of maintaining diverse student bodies, many institutions-including the National Science Foundation-have turned to outreach programs to attract minority students. But the latest attacks on affirmative action have challenged the legality of such programs. Fearing lawsuits, many universities and public institutions are reconsidering using race as a factor in admissions and awards decisions.

"Most universities have affirmative action programs which are carefully constructed and can withstand judicial scrutiny," notes George Campbell, Jr., president and CEO of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering Inc. "But as more cases go to court, ...

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