by Benjamin Yount
The University of Wisconsin says it doesn’t yet know what the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to end affirmative action university admissions will mean for UW schools.
UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin on Thursday said she will need some time to examine the university’s admission policy, and determine if any changes are needed.
“The full implications of today’s ruling — both nationally and on our campus — will not be known for some time. UW–Madison and UW System attorneys are now carefully reviewing the Court’s opinions and monitoring the potential release of additional guidance from relevant federal agencies,” Mnookin (pictured above) said in a statement to students, faculty members, and university workers.
Mnookin said UW-Madison does consider race when admitting students.
“We have considered the race of applicants as one factor in a holistic admissions process that focuses first and foremost on candidates’ academic strength. Our process looks at written statements, extracurriculars, recommendations, and the range of experiences, talents and backgrounds candidates will bring to the university. Every admitted student here at UW–Madison has demonstrated the potential for academic success within our competitive applicant pools,” Mnookin added. “Though we have seen a roughly 50 percent increase in our underrepresented undergraduate student population in the past five years, our current enrollment percentages of underrepresented students still lag behind many of our peers.”
The Supreme Court yesterday said basing university admissions on race violates the constitution’s equal protection clause.
State Rep. Dave Murphy, R-Greenville, said the nation’s high court got it right.
Republicans have always believed in merit. People shouldn’t be pigeonholed into categories based only on the color of their skin. They should be recognized as unique individuals. Each student has talents and abilities of their own. Our country is based on equal opportunity, and this decision helps treat college applicants with equality,” Murphy said. “No student should enter the college admission process at a disadvantage. Asian students and others have been discriminated against, and their hard work and merit have been overlooked.”
Murphy is part of a group of Republican lawmakers who are pushing for a change in UW-Madison admissions, specifically to guarantee top high school grads in Wisconsin a seat at the university.
Mnookin said UW-Madison will continue to focus on diversity on campus.
“The ruling will require some modifications to aspects of our current admissions practices; we will, of course, adapt our practices to comply with the law. At the same time, I want to reiterate that our commitment to the value of diversity within our community, including racial diversity, remains a bedrock value of the institution,” Mnookin added. “I want to stress to all our students, faculty, staff, prospective students and families that UW–Madison remains committed to creating a community where people of all backgrounds, identities, and beliefs belong and can thrive.”
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Benjamin Yount is a contributor to The Center Square.
Photo “Jennifer Mnookin” by Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin. Background Photo “University of Wisconsin-Madison” by University of Wisconsin-Madison.
WOW ! Here we have the UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin probably a person with a very high level academic degree playing the “liberal game” of claiming not know what the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action means. Dear Ms Mnookin, it means “NO MORE MANIPULATING ADMISSION DECISIONS BASED ON ANYTHING BUT THE STUDENTS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS”. If you are the chancellor of the Madison campus you had better know what the admissions policy is or you should be fired. As the “top dog” saying you don’t know how not being able to use affirmative action or more appropriately “reverse discrimination” when making these decisions is soundly pathetic. On the other hand are you trying to make us believe that the UW System never uses affirmative action in making admission decisions ? Just by the way the blatant manipulation of the use of the SAT scores has loosened the qualification standards of hopeful students says you already know everything you need to STOP DOING. Typical liberal cover up of the UW System games. Follow the money. It is all about “head count” and $$$$ and pushing the WOKE agenda.