In light of Thursday’s decision by the US Supreme Court to effectively end affirmative action for colleges and universities, Emporia’s institutions of higher learning say the ruling may not have any impact on their current admissions procedures.
Emporia State University says it uses “qualified admissions practices,” which bases admissions on minimum grade point average and ACT scores. In a statement Friday, ESU said it “values and welcomes the benefits of diversity, and pledges to current and prospective students, faculty, staff and the public that we expect and demand the worth and dignity of all people be recognized without regard to any classification that might preclude a person from consideration as an individual.”
Flint Hills Technical College, meanwhile, says it will keep ensuring its programs are available to all applicants who meet college and/or program entrance benchmarks. Its statement says the college remains committed to its mission of providing a “diverse community of learners with lifelong education opportunities for personal growth and preparation for professional and civic responsibilities that meet the needs of society.” It also says the college will continue its commitment to non-discrimination.
Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling said affirmative action policies at Harvard and North Carolina violate the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause. The vote was 6-3.
Emporia State University statement
Emporia State University values and welcomes the benefits of diversity, and pledges to current and prospective students, faculty, staff and the public that we expect and demand the worth and dignity of all people be recognized without regard to any classification that might preclude a person from consideration as an individual.
ESU uses qualified admissions practices, which means that, as long as applicants meet our minimum GPA and ACT requirement, they will be admitted, regardless of other factors. ESU believes the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling is unlikely to have much effect, if any, on the university’s admissions procedures or practices.
Flint Hills Technical College statement
As an open-enrollment institution of higher education providing educational access to all students, Flint Hills Technical College will continue to ensure its programs are available to all students who apply and meet the College and / or program entrance requirements. We respect our guiding documents and statements, and we commit to our mission: To provide a diverse community of learners with lifelong education opportunities for personal growth and preparation for professional and civic responsibilities that meet the needs of society. Our core values include acknowledging the diversity of all individuals and a mutual respect within the framework of ethical behavior. Finally, the College will continue to adhere to its non-discrimination commitment to all members of our community and our future students, which states that the College does not discriminate on the basis of sex including pregnant and parenting students, sexual orientation, handicap, race, color, age, religion, marital status, or national or ethnic origin in educational programs, admissions policies, employment policies, financial aid or other College-administered programs.
