Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC Calls for Disaggregated Data for Incoming Class Demographics as Effect of Dismantling Affirmative Action Remains Unclear
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — September 4, 2024 — This past week, many schools including Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Amherst College, Tufts University, Yale University, Princeton University and the University of Virginia released the demographic breakdowns for the incoming classes of 2028 – each institution’s first freshman class since the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in higher education last June. Schools are reporting less diverse classes, and declines in the enrollment of Latino and Black American students, while enrollment of white students generally has increased. However, results have varied for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students, who anti-affirmative action activists argued were being penalized through the limited consideration of race in the admissions process. As the enrollment data currently stands, there is little insight into the long-term impact of admissions processes on Asian American students, and campus diversity as a whole.
Niyati Shah, Director of Litigation at Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC, released the following statement:
“We commend the higher education institutions across the country who are committed to sharing their incoming class profiles. However, the demographic data is both insufficient and too opaque to determine the true impact of the Supreme Court’s decision to end race-conscious admissions, especially on Asian American students. As we know, racial groups are not homogenous. AANHPIs are no different, we comprise over 26 ethnicities on the Census alone, have varying levels of English proficiency, unique immigration histories, and run the gamut on socioeconomic levels. The data released by these institutions do not meaningfully address any of this diversity among racial groups, including AANHPIs. As Advancing Justice – AAJC has shown through our work representing the student-amici of Harvard and our communities across the country, there is no question that diversity benefits all students, and AANHPIs strongly support affirmative action.
Advancing Justice – AAJC calls on all higher education institutions to embrace disaggregated data collection on a host of metrics and reporting strategies that can paint a clearer picture of who is benefiting, and who is being left behind, when it comes to educational opportunities.
We stand by the belief that all individuals, regardless of race, socioeconomic background, gender, or immigration status, deserve equal opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. As institutions explore ways to ensure education equity and diverse student bodies, data is fundamental. Through better data collection and disclosure, we can better understand who is underrepresented at a particular institution and strategically address the barriers they face so we can ensure equitable access to education for all communities.”
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