As you may know, the Supreme Court ruled today that Harvard's and UNC's race conscious admission practices violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. In light of this ruling, we will need to review and revise our practices to ensure that we are fully compliant with the law.
What will not change is our commitment to creating a diverse community as central to the educational experience at Penn. We will continue to embrace and support the full lived experiences of every member of our community. This commitment is embedded in our mission, as articulated by President Magill and Provost Jackson, in their message to faculty, staff, and students.
Our increasingly complex world needs problem solvers, inventors, and connectors. We believe all aspects of an individual's life experience contribute to the multidimensional problem solving that inspires them to question, explore multiple pathways forward, and design solutions that are broadly applicable.
Access to a broad community of learners enriches the college experience for everyone, and better prepares students of all backgrounds to succeed in a global society. Our students will become our leaders, impacting the decisions that will influence our future. So, creating opportunities for dialogue among students who have different experiences fosters stronger critical thinking skills, empathy, and overall knowledge.
Simply put, we cannot fulfill our educational mission without honoring and supporting the many and varied lived experiences of our students, faculty, and staff. While the way we do our work will change in compliance with the law, our respect for this foundational principle will not.
