The Importance of Diversity in Academic Excellence

The court held that Harvard College's admissions system does not comply with the principles of the Equal Protection Clause. It also ruled that colleges and universities may consider in admissions decisions, quote, an applicant's discussion of how race affected his or her life. We write today to reaffirm the fundamental principle that deep and transformative teaching, learning, and research depend upon a community comprising people of many backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences. That principle is as true and important today as it was yesterday.