Affirmative Action

Under Federal Affirmative Action laws and regulations, public universities receiving federal

funds must:

o Maintain minority admissions percentages equal to the percentage of minorities in the state population.

o Maintain minority admissions percentages equal to the percentage of minorities among the state’s high school graduates.

?

Under Federal Affirmative Action laws and regulations, public universities receiving federal

funds must:

• Maintain minority admissions percentages equal to the percentage of minorities in the state population.

• Maintain minority admissions percentages equal to the percentage of minorities among the state’s high school graduates.

• Not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, or gender

Civil Rights Act Title VISec. 2000d.

• No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

University of California Regents v. Bakke:

• Medical school admission plan reserved 16\100 seats for minority students.

• Bakke denied admission twice despite higher scores.

• 4 Justices argue race should not be a facotr at all

• 4 Justices favored the plan

• Justice Powell sides with both

Powell’s decision

• Quotas violate Title VI

• Race may be used as a “plus factor”

Michigan cases

• GRATZ ET AL. v. BOLLINGER(undergraduate)

• GRUTTER v. BOLLINGER. (Law School)

GRATZ ET AL. v. BOLLINGER(undergraduate)

• 90 – 100/150 points needed for admission

Academic – max: 110 GPA 80SAT 12Rigor of school 10Weak courses -4Strong courses +8

Disadvantage\discretion – max 20Member of minority group 20Minority high school 20Economic disadvantage 20Athlete 20

Provost’s discretion 1-20Residence – max 16

Michigan resident 10Underrepresented county 6Underrepresented state 2

OtherAlumni relationship 1-4Personal essay 1-3Leadership\service 1-5Personal achievements 1-5

Total max – 150

Anti –Affirmative Action Referenda

• California: Prop 209 (1996)

• Washington: I-200 (1998)

• Michigan: Prop 2 (2006)

Michigan proposition 2

• (1) The University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, and any other public college or university, community college, or school district shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.

• (2) The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.