The Faculty Executive Committee released the following statement on July 10, 2023 regarding the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on race-conscious college admissions practices. The statement can also be accessed at this link [PDF].
Statement of the Faculty Executive Committee on the U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina
On June 29, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unlawful some of the University of North Carolina’s long-standing admissions practices. While the Court’s decision will result in changes to some of our practices, our university’s values, mission, and goals remain unchanged.
We re-affirm our unwavering support for the University of North Carolina’s commitment to creating and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community of students, faculty, and staff, in accordance with the strategic plan, Carolina Next: Innovations for Public Good. As faculty of a university that is “of the public and for the public,” we embrace the promise of higher education and celebrate the diversity of the state we serve. We recognize and evidence confirms that learning and work environments comprised of people of varied backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences are essential for transformational teaching, for the creation of knowledge, for innovation and discovery, and for equipping students for responsible citizenship.
The ruling does not define who we are as an institution, our commitment to dismantling systemic and structural barriers to higher education, or our belief that each member of our campus contributes to the special character and excellence of this great university.
We urge our university administrators and governing bodies to pursue all lawful strategies to foster an inclusive and diverse intellectual community. As representatives of the faculty, we vigorously support you in these efforts.
