Post-SFFA v. Harvard & UNC Decision Resources: Admissions and Beyond

​In the past year some colleges and universities have increased their financial aid offerings, which could help them boost diversity, Inside Higher Ed reports.

​A new research report found that state level race-based admissions bans resulted in a decrease in racial diversity by 20 percent at American law schools.

​Venable LLP examines the state of college admissions and challenges to race-conscious policies or programs that continue to emerge.

​ACE President Ted Mitchell joined dotEDU to examine the complexities of admissions in 2024, including problems with the redesigned FAFSA , repercussions of the 2023 Supreme Court ruling on race in admissions, and more.

​Harvard and Caltech joined other universities that have recently reestablished testing requirements in the wake of new research.

​Duke is discontinuing a scholarship program for applicants of African descent, in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling.

​Enrollment has surged at HBCUs around the country, a trend that could be at least partially due to the Supreme Court Ruling.

​The Chronicle of Higher Education analyzes the rise in attacks on scholarships designated for students from underrepresented racial backgrounds.

​The Access and Diversity Collaborative's Supreme Court Ruling on Race in Admission page contains and is updated with a variety of resources in response to the ruling.

​The Upshot at The New York Times explores how institutions can create diverse classes without race-based admissions.

​State and local programs benefitting underrepresented groups in a range of professions have become targets for conservative activists, The Washington Post reports.

​A Brookings report examines how legacy admissions policies are used.

​Anti-DEI laws are removing tools that help Hispanic students enroll and graduate, NBC reports.

​In the first admissions cycle since the Supreme Court's ruling, HBCUs in North Carolina are seeing an increase in interest from prospective students, aligning with predictions from some college administrators and admissions professionals that the ruling could lead to an influx of applications at HBCUs.

​The Wall Street Journal reports that this might be the most chaotic, frustrating, uncertain college-admissions cycle in recent history, citing the Supreme Court's ruling as one of the key factors.

​The Washington Post examines the history of affirmative action.

​Connecticut lawmakers advanced a bill that would ban legacy admissions at public and private institutions in the state.

​The Washington Post's Editorial Board examines the rise in legislation restricting legacy admissions and argues the practice should be banned.

​Forbes looks at some initial trends in the current application cycle, such as test-optional policies and more diversity of applications.

​The Minnesota Reformer spoke with Zoey Haines, an expert in admissions, about the many recent changes to college admissions.

​Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed bills banning legacy preferences in admissions at public institutions.

​Minnesota state lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban legacy admissions for public and private institutions.

​The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports on how Pittsburgh-area high school seniors are navigating a changed admissions process.

​A federal judge in Texas cited the Supreme Court’s Harvard-UNC admissions decision more than 30 times in a ruling that orders the federal government's Minority Business Development Agency to be open for all races.

​Some colleges and universities are considering the legality of certain diversity-focused scholarships, Insight Into Diversity reports.

​California has much to teach the rest of the country about attaining a diverse student body in absence of race-conscious admissions, Michael Blacher and Gabriella Kamran write.

​Michael T. Nietzel, former president at Missouri State University, writes about pressures institutions are facing to end legacy admissions.

​A bill in California would prohibit private colleges and universities from receiving state funding through the Cal Grant program if they give preferential treatment to applicants with donor or alumni connections.

​Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is asking institutions to review scholarships that include race-based language.

​Ohio University announced that it would pause race-based diversity scholarships in light of last summer’s Supreme Court ruling striking down the use of race in admissions, and Ohio State University is also reassessing its race-based scholarships.

​The Supreme Court's decision not to intervene in a high school's admissions policy signals that socioeconomic factors are acceptable and may represent the future for colleges and universities, The Washington Post reports.

​The law firm Saul Ewing examines the Supreme Court's decision to deny a petition for a writ of certiorari in Coalition for TJ v. Fairfax County School Board.

​The Supreme Court declined to intervene in a case concerning admissions policies meant to increase racial diversity at a Virginia magnet high school, potentially green-lighting a set of race-neutral admission practices for higher ed institutions.

​Some institutions that are bringing back testing requirements are highlighting new research that says that test scores are helpful for admissions decisions and the inclusion of tests benefit for marginalized applicants.

​Wisconsin enacted a law that directs the state’s public university network to create a guaranteed admissions system in which students who rank within the top 10 percent of their class would be accepted into most Universities of Wisconsin institutions.

​The Maryland House of Delegates passed a bill that would ban the consideration of legacy status in admissions for all colleges that receive state funding, both public and private.

​A study in Nature estimates that Asian American applicants had 28 percent lower odds of ultimately attending a group of highly selective institutions than white applicants with similar academic and extracurricular qualifications.

​The Supreme Court declined to temporarily block race-conscious admissions at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, clearing the way for the school to continue considering race as a factor in selecting the class that will enroll in the fall.

​How Americans feel about the end of race-conscious admissions depends not just on their race but also their age and gender, according to a recent Gallup poll.

​CNBC looks at how the Supreme Court's ruling is impact this year's college application cycle so far.

​Proposals aimed at dismantling DEI programs on college campuses have been introduced in 21 states since 2021, and nine of the states have approved such laws, Axios found.

​Robert Massa and Bill Conley, two former enrollmenet officers, argue that the elimination of early decision would be symbolic at best and counterproductive to access at worst.

​Brown University will adopt a need-blind admissions policy for undergraduate international students.

​Temple University announced that it will cover tuition and fees for incoming full-time students from Philadelphia whose family income is $65,000 or less.

​The New York Times reports on part of the playbook used to attack diveristy, equity, and inclusion programs at colleges and universities.

​The Virginia state Senate unanimously passed a bill banning legacy preferences. Other states, like Connecticut and New York, are working on their own legislation.

​After the Supreme Court's ruling banning race-conscious admissions, students increasingly began to use their essays to highlight their racial background.

​The 2024 Center for Enrollment Research, Policy and Practice Conference at the USC Rossier School of Education will seek to empower attendees with actionable strategies to advance equity in enrollment following the Supreme Court's decision banning race-conscience admissions.

​The Department of Education is investigating whether the University of Pennsylvania’s legacy admissions policies constitute racial discrimination under federal law.

​Phillip Levine and Sarah Reber argue that class-based admissions policies will not replace race-based policies, citing their research showing financial hurdles.

​A conservative group filed a complaint with the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights against the University of Wisconsin-Madison, alleging that a fellowship program is illegal because it discriminates against white students.

​Direct admissions programs, increasingly being tried by states, colleges, and third-party services, send seniors who meet minimum academic qualifications unsolicited notifications of admission, writes New York Times columnist Ann Carns.

​A new suvey found that nearly 7 in 10 Americans support the Supreme Court’s decision to end the use of race in college admissions

​At least 14 states this year will consider legislation that could dismantle the ways college administrators attempt to correct historical and structural gender and racial disparities and make campus climates more inclusive, according to a Chronicle of Higher Education analysis.

​A new poll found that a majority of law school admissions officers are “very concerned” that the  Supreme Court’s ban on race-conscious admissions will reduce the number of diverse law students nationwide.

​New York Governor Kathy Hochul proposed a direct admissions plan for the State University of New York and City University of New York systems.

​Following the SFFA decision, the Supreme Court will hear a case, Coalition for TJ v. Fairfax County School Board, that addresses admissions policies for magnet high schools.

​Inside Higher Ed reports on the prospects of institutions establishing "class-based" admissions policies.

​The U.S. Military Academy at West Point can continue considering race in its admissions process for now, after a judge rejected the petition for a preliminary injunction filed by Students for Fair Admissions.

​A federal appeals court upheld an admissions program for the Boston school system’s selective “exam schools,” ruling that a plan based in part on socioeconomic factors is allowable under the Supreme Court’s recent decision against race-conscious college admissions.

​The USC Rossier School of Education hosted a panel titled “The Future of University Admissions After the Supreme Court Ruling on Affirmative Action” that addressed challenges and strategies for aligning admissions practices with equity and diversity goals.

​A Brookings analysis shows that selective colleges could use "class-based affirmative action" to make progress in maintaining racial diversity after the SFFA ruling, but it will be difficult to achieve.

​A provision in the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act that would bar dozens of colleges from accepting federal student loans threatens diversity and could have major consequences.

​HR Dive compiled 10 of its biggest stories on DEI pushback from 2023.

​Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement that "access to data on legacy applicants is essential for colleges and universities reevaluating their admissions practices and working to build diverse student bodies."

​U.S. medical schools enrolled a more diverse first-year class in the 2023-24 academic year, with increases among some groups but declines in others, according to AAMC data.

​Inside Higher Ed assesses a year of dramatic change in college admissions and predicts what the landscape might look like in 2024.

​DEI initiatives will continue to face challenges in 2024, though programs that focus on eliminating bias, cultivating a broad view of diversity, and promoting equal opportunity among employees generally remain lawful.

​NPR reports on the Merit-Based Educational Reforms and Institutional Transparency Act, which would prohibit accredited higher education institutions from granting preferential treatment in admissions processes based on an applicant's relationship to alumni or donors.

​The Supreme Court's ruling has made law schools rethink their approach to admissions, as officials try to both retain the diversity of their student bodies and comply with the law.

​Black college applicants shared with CNN that the fallout from the high court’s decision has added a new level of anxiety to the application process.

​Lauren Foley, political science professor and author of “On the Basis of Race: How Higher Education Navigates Affirmative Action Policies,” expounds on what she sees as the future of diversity in higher education.

​Bloomberg reports on how medical schools are handling their first round of applications since the Supreme Court's ruling.

​College applicants are still writing about race in their applications, and counselors and colleges are encouraging applicants more than ever to explore their racial and ethnic identities and their views on diversity.

​Scrutiny over early decision admissions policies increased following the Supreme Court's ruling, with some advocates calling for an end to the practice. Few institutions are ending their early decision programs for a myriad of reasons.

​In one of the first lawsuits to test the legality of corporate diversity practices in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling, a class-action lawsuit claims the newspaper publisher Gannett “discriminated against non-minorities” to achieve diversity goals.

​Some institutions, experts, and advocates see reparations through admissions as a permissible approach to increase campus diversity, and Justice Brett Kavanaugh signaled such a policy would technically be a race-neutral factor.

​Race-conscious admissions were widely seen to have disadvantaged Asian American students, but many feel that race will still be a hidden factor and that standards are even more opaque than before, reports the Los Angeles Times.

​U.S. companies' diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are losing momentum this year following the Supreme Court's ruling striking down the use of race in admissions.

​Colorado College has created a safe-haven initiative for students wanting to leave institutions of higher education in states that have passed anti-DEI laws, offering admitted students full financial aid consideration and will full credit for transferable coursework.

​At least 42 colleges in New York received complaints alleging programs or scholarships that were only open to women or minorities discriminate on the basis of sex or race, and the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has decided some of these programs and scholarships are in conflict with federal discrimination laws and pushed schools to change their practices.

​Butler University is partnering with a national nonprofit to create a new two-year college that will provide an affordable pathway for historically underserved students, offering students the ability to earn an associate’s degree with no debt or out-of-pocket expenses and the opportunity to continue at Butler and earn a bachelor’s degree for less than $10,000.

​The Iowa Board of Regents approved recommendations to eliminate all campuswide diversity, equity and inclusion efforts that are not required for universities to stay compliant with the law or accreditation standards.

​Some California private colleges are increasing their outreach efforts to attract more students and emphasize that the Supreme Court's decision doesn’t change their belief in the importance of diversity.

​Brookings found that the impacts of the Supreme Court's decision striking down race-conscience admissions will mostly impact a relatively small number of selective institutions.

​Princeton University Press published a discussion with four experts on how college environments benefit from racial diversity and how colleges can achieve it.

​Race-based scholarships have played a crucial role in addressing systemic inequalities and are essential for promoting diversity and inclusivity on college campuses, writes Noël Harmon, Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund president.

​The New York State Bar Association said in a report that institutions that want to achieve diversity should eliminate the preferential treatment in admissions given to athletes, the children of alumni and the family of donors.

​With direct admissions policies on the rise, 70 colleges and universities used the Common Application to offer admissions to more than 200,000 students--even if they did not apply--targeting those who would be first-generation college students or come from families with significant financial need.

​A bipartisan bill called the MERIT Act introduced in the Senate in November would add a new standard for accreditation under the Higher Education Act that would prohibit institutions from giving preferential treatment during the admissions process based on an applicant’s relationship to alumni or donors.

​Preliminary data from the Common App show a 41 percent increase from the 2019–20 application cycle in applications submitted before Nov. 1, sparked by a big upswing in minority applicants.

​The Legal Defense Fund and several other organizations released a report that offers a legal history of race-conscience admissions in higher education, analyzes the Supreme Court’s decision in the SFFA cases, discusses the racial justice consequences, and provides recommendations.

​Higher Ed Dive looks at the various ways data on legacy admissions is reported, which can complicate research efforts and understandings of the practice.

​After the Supreme Court struck down the use of race in admissions, schools in North Texas are exploring alternative ways to ensure diverse students have access.

​The Education Trust writes that "banning the box" is one way for institutions to open their doors to those facing barriers to college access due to a history with the legal system.

Lawfare writes that the government has some room to make the case for why the use of race considerations for admissions at the military academies should be considered different by the courts, yet whether it can successfully explain why is the question.

​Two attorneys from Duane Morris describe in an op-ed another case pending before the Supreme Court that may further restrict what employers lawfully can do to increase diversity.

​At least six universities in Virginia have begun offering guaranteed admissions to address declining enrollment numbers and help bolster populations of underrepresented students.

​Led by Gov. Maura Healey, Massachusetts issued guidance to support the Commonwealth’s institutions, focusing primarily on admissions and access in higher education, while also including steps K-12 schools can take to set students up for success.

​A Republican-backed bill would require University of Wisconsin schools and technical colleges to only weigh financial need and not race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation or religion when awarding grants and loans or creating enrollment and retention plans.

​The Chronicle of Higher Education analyzes colleges’ supplementary essay prompts to see how they might have changed in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on race-conscious admissions.

This NACUANOTE summarizes the majority opinion, three concurrences, and two dissents. It then discusses the potential implications for higher education, not only in the context of admissions but also with respect to financial aid and outreach and recruitment programs.​

​A new survey from Inside Higher Ed found that most college and university presidents disagree with the Supreme Court's decision on race-conscious admissions and think it will reduce diversity in higher education.

​Cornell's Presidential Task Force on Undergraduate Admissions issued its final report in September 2023 outlining a cooperative, flexible and analytical approach to admissions.

​At Cornell University, an internal task force issued a 40-page report with recommendations for how the university could alter its admissions work to help diversify its undergraduate population.

​There are now 10 states with system-level direct admissions policies, and some experts say that number is likely to multiply in the coming year.

​Arkansas lawmakers questioned representatives from six public colleges and schools on their diversity, equity and inclusion policies and practices during a subcommittee meeting.

​The New York Times reports on how Census categories for race and ethnicity have changed over the last 230 years.

​Students for Fair Admissions sued the U.S. Naval Academy, saying the academy “has no justification for using race-based admissions.”

​Students for Fair Admissions sued the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, saying the school's race-conscious admissions practices unconstitutionally discriminate against white applicants.

​The Princeton Weekly takes a close look at how Princeton is responding to the SCOTUS decision and how the ruling could impact the university.

​A group founded by Edward Blum, who led the successful Supreme Court challenge to race-conscious college admissions policies, said it was considering legal action against three law firms' diversity fellowship programs.

​This report identifies key themes from the relevant research on the recruitment and admissions practices that will play a significant role in the future of college student diversity. Additionally, this report highlights areas for more research and the data needed to support additional areas of future research.

​For the international education sector, the direct impact of eliminating race-in-admissions policies may not seem clear. However, such a ban can affect education abroad, international student recruitment, and efforts to recruit and retain racially diverse staff and faculty to support international education.

​Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the practice unconstitutional, admissions experts say other states could look to Texas’s Top 10 Percent Plan as a way to diversify their student bodies.

​It's hard to know exactly how the Top 10 Percent Rule has impacted diversity at UT-Austin, but data suggests it does boost the school's Hispanic population.

​All South Carolina students who are ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class will be guaranteed admission to the University of South Carolina’s Columbia campus starting with the Fall 2024 application cycle.

​The researchers found that the elimination of affirmative action has led to persistent declines in the share of underrepresented minorities among students admitted to and enrolling in public flagship universities in these states.

​Research on schools in states that have race-based admissions suggests no other single admissions policy will produce current levels of racial and ethnic diversity on its own. What admissions policies have been enacted in states where affirmative action has already been banned? And what effect have those policies had on student racial diversity?

Researchers talk to Nature about how halting race-conscious admissions will affect STEM employment, university applications, and more.

​Chief diversity officers are falling behind in the hiring job market. Some chief diversity officers stated that their jobs are facing further challenges after the Supreme Court ended affirmative action. This falling demand adds further doubt to the future of the DEI landscape.

​The Executive Leadership Council, a global organization of more than 800 global Black executives, told American CEOs that the Supreme Court’s decision should not affect their efforts to implement DEI practices.

​According to data from Princeton in 2018, over 30 percent of applicants with a legacy connection are admitted, compared to less than five percent overall. They are more likely to be white and upper-class and have higher SAT scores.

​Wesleyan joined a growing list of selective schools that have dropped legacy admissions.

​The op-ed discusses how legacy admissions affected generations of applicants and the shifting dynamic under the SCOTUS SFFA decision.

​According to a new Pew Research Center analysis, the Supreme Court decision would likely impact highly selective private colleges and universities.

​The US Supreme Court's recent decision has potential implications beyond the education sector, particularly for federal contractors covered by Executive Order (EO) 11246. This EO enforces equal employment opportunity plans and affirmative action programs for qualifying federal contractors. The ruling could prompt challenges to EO 11246.

​In a July 13, 2023 letter, attorneys general of 13 states issued a warning to the CEOs of Fortune 100 companies, threatening “serious legal consequences” over race-based employment preferences and diversity policies.

​Many years before the SFFA ruling, the University of California, Davis, achieved diversity through innovative strategies and a focus on socioeconomic factors, offering a potential model for creating a more inclusive medical education system.

​This resource provides a substantive overview and practical guide to the use of race- and ethnicity-neutral strategies and selection criteria (“plays”) that may qualify as race- and ethnicity-neutral under federal law, and that can advance institutional diversity interests—including those associated with race and ethnicity.

​This analysis was prepared on behalf of the College Board Access and Diversity Collaborative and discusses the legal and policy implications of the decision for the higher education community. It also provides takeaways to enhance admission policies and diversity.

​President Biden provided a response and remarks regarding the Supreme Court's decision on the use of race in college admissions. He emphasized the need to continue promoting equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusion, particularly in higher education. He proposed a new standard for colleges to consider the adversity students face during admissions.

​The guidance discusses the potential implications of the Supreme Court's decision on ESG investing and engagement practices in public and private markets. It examines how opponents of affirmative action policies might use similar reasoning to challenge corporate diversity initiatives under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and how critics of ESG investing might attempt to argue that considering corporate diversity in securities selection is illegal under state laws.

​AAU President Barbara R. Snyder emphasizes that diversity enhances academic success and educational outcomes. Despite this setback, AAU institutions remain committed to equity, excellence, and fostering diversity for optimal learning and societal preparation, continuing to promote inclusivity and diversity.

​NAICU President Barbara K. Mistick emphasizes the importance of diversity and equity in higher education and the need to address underlying issues of inequality and discrimination.

​AASCU expresses distress over the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, highlighting its impact on underrepresented students of color and the potential for diminished societal progress. AASCU emphasizes the importance of affirmative action policies in fostering diversity, promoting equity, and serving as a societal equalizer in higher education, pledging to continue advocating for increased access and urging institutions to explore permissible alternatives to ensure fairness and productivity in the higher education system.

​HACU strongly condemns the Supreme Court's decision, asserting that this ruling perpetuates educational inequities for underserved groups. HACU voices concern about the decision's negative impact on Hispanic-Serving Institutions, their students, and surrounding communities while emphasizing its commitment to equal educational opportunities and continued advocacy.

​CGS states that they will continue to support its diverse member universities as they navigate the implications of the decision on graduate admissions, reaffirming their commitment to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion in graduate education to address the country's pressing challenges across various professions.

​APLU President Mark Becker emphasizes the importance of diversity for a valuable learning environment. While the ruling will lead to changes in admissions practices, the commitment of public universities to provide accessible, high-quality education remains unchanged, aiming to empower underrepresented communities and ensure equal opportunities for students of all backgrounds.

​AACRAO, NACAC, and NASFAA led a webinar on the SFFA v Harvard and UNC cases.  Complementing the legal analysis, this session featured enrollment professionals who shared their reactions to the decisions and ideas regarding ways to continue to advance their institutional diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.

​Participants summarize the key aspects of the Court’s decision in the Harvard and UNC admissions cases and share a high-level interpretation of what is immediately clear regarding what colleges and universities could continue to do to support student access and success.

​In a webinar hosted in partnership with AACRAO, NACAC, and EducationCounsel, enrollment professionals discussed the implications of the race-conscious admission decisions. Art Coleman, managing partner and co-founder of EducationCounsel, discussed how the affirmative action decision did not address the distinction between financial aid and admission in terms of using race-conscious policies. Other guest speakers stress the importance of communicating with students and families about the SCOTUS decision and concerns.

​NASFAA President and CEO Justin Draeger said that the organization will "respect and uphold the law of the land," but they will not ignore racial and ethnic gaps in college access and attainment.

​In the wake of the decision, McGuireWoods provides guidance on critical indirect employment implications, other legal challenges, consideration of corporate diversity programs, and potential implications for federal contractors' affirmative action plans.

​CAA clarifies that the lawsuit brought by "anti-civil rights litigator Edward Blum with the clear objective of dismantling decades of progress for students of color" does not represent Asian American community.

​In preparation for the Supreme Court decision, CAA prepared talking points that emphasized its ultimate goal of education: to allow students to follow their dreams, celebrate their identities, and reach their full potential.

​NACAC and ASCA issued a joint statement on the Supreme Court's decision on race-conscious admission, which states their disappointment with the decision and desire to continue to work toward diversity and equity in college admissions policy and practice.

​The guidance provides a contextual review of the case and actions that institutions can take to adapt to new changes.

​Virginia Tech announced that it would eliminate both its early-decision option and legacy admissions preferences.

​Following Attorney General Andrew Bailey's letter, the University of Missouri system responded by cutting "a small number of" minority scholarship programs.

​Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey sent a letter to colleges in the state telling them to end the use of "race-based standards to make decisions about things like admission, scholarships, programs, and employment."

​After the Supreme Court decision, Harvard eliminated the supplement optional essay and replaced it with required short answer questions. The questions ask about applicants’ life experiences, intellectual interests, and extracurricular activities; how they hope to use their Harvard education; and the top three things they want their roommate to know about them.

​This report finds that a ban on the consideration of race in college admissions will threaten the racial and ethnic diversity of students at selective colleges unless these colleges fundamentally alter their admissions practices. The report explores six admissions models and the impact they would likely have on racial/ethnic and socioeconomic diversity if used consistently across selective colleges.

​In this qualitative study of 39 deans and directors of admissions from 37 medical schools, the researchers find that embedded processes and structures of institutional racism continue to hinder increasing diversity in admissions.

​The AAMC developed an FAQ resource to support medical schools following the SFFA decisions. The guidance focuses on the scope of the ruling, the admissions process, the importance of diversity, and legal information.

​Beginning with the incoming class in 2024, UNC will provide free tuition and required fees for incoming undergraduates from North Carolina whose families make less than $80,000 per year and attempt to expand access after the U.S. Supreme Court decision.

​Following the decision by the Supreme Court, AAUP states their support for ending legacy admission preferences and revising admissions policies to ensure equitable access to higher education.

​U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chair Charlotte A. Burrows stated, "the decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina does not address employer efforts to foster diverse and inclusive workforces or to engage the talents of all qualified workers, regardless of their background."

​The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law urges employers to not worry over the SFFA decisions since the case does not change employment law. Employers must continue to do their part to provide opportunities to all workers and eliminate unnecessary barriers, including through diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts.

Duke University offers full tuition grants for North and South Carolina students whose family income is less than $150,000. After the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the use of race in admissions, this plan serves as a recruitment tool for more diverse applicants.

Unable to consider race since voters approved Proposition 209 in 1996, the University of California now makes admission decisions through a range of factors, including the location of an applicant's school, an applicant's socioeconomic status, and an applicant's achievements relative to the opportunities available at their high school. This "holistic review" allows the UC to expand its outreach to low-income students enrolled at underserved schools.