Source: Inside Higher Ed
Following the recent SCOTUS decision that overturned affirmative action, the NAACP has launched a “Diversity No Matter What” campaign aimed at colleges and universities with selective admissions policies.
“Let’s be clear – Black America is in a fight for our lives. The NAACP has been at the forefront of this battle for more than a century and we’re not backing down,” NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement. “It is our hope that our nation’s institutions will stand with us in embracing diversity, no matter what. Regardless, the NAACP will continue to advocate, litigate, and mobilize to ensure that every Black American has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.”
The “Diversity No Matter What” pledge outlines several ways for schools to create or sustain a campus culture of inclusivity, belonging, and respect:
- Eliminating racially biased entrance examinations and adopting a holistic approach that considers every aspect of an applicant’s background, achievements, and potential.
- Supporting the matriculation and retention of low-income and first-generation students through outreach programs, scholarships, mentoring, and academic support services.
- Recruiting diverse faculty and staff who can serve as role models and mentors for our students while contributing to our curriculum and research.
- Creating a welcoming, and supportive campus climate that values diversity, stands for equity, and advances inclusion in all aspects of academic and social life.
- Striving towards greater inclusivity by ending the utilization of legacy admissions which give an advantage to children and family members of institutional alumni or donors.
- Partnering with and supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, and other Minority Serving Institutions that have deeply rooted race-conscious missions.
Alongside the pledge for colleges, the NAACP also issued a “Diversity No Matter What” petition for their leaders and members across the nation to sign that can be read here.
