On a muggy Thursday a week later, that executive action was a reality. This requires institutions of higher education to submit information demonstrating they do not use race as a factor in their admissions procedures. This action is a direct counter to the 2023 US Supreme Court decision. That ruling not only banned the use of affirmative action in higher education admissions but upended how universities have long been able to foster diversity among their students.
The stated purpose of this executive action is to bring the state into compliance with federal law prohibiting unlawful discrimination in admissions. Trump directed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to oversee this initiative, requiring higher education institutions that receive federal funding to provide thorough data on their admissions practices. This new scrutiny is an effort to reinforce accountability for these institutions and provide additional transparency to the public about their admissions practices.
Under the new, expanded directive, the scope of required admissions reporting will expand considerably. Institutions will be required to do an accuracy check, thus enabling a deeper analysis of their admissions data. The White House has been looking closely at colleges and universities. This new endeavor is one piece of a larger plan to address the growing anxiety surrounding issues of diversity, inclusion, and equity in American education.
This executive action builds on the state’s response to the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling. Conservative activists hailed the decision as a triumph against affirmative action, arguing that such policies unjustly harm white students. As the Trump administration contends, several colleges have found creative ways to measure race. Yet, despite this court ruling, they rely on personal statements and other loopholish measures.
“Although the Supreme Court of the United States has definitively held that consideration of race in higher education admissions violates students’ civil rights,” – the presidential memorandum reads.
This executive action isn’t just about compliance though. It’s a huge change to the approach universities use to address diversity within their student bodies. As institutions prepare to adapt to these new reporting requirements, they will need to navigate the balance between maintaining diverse student bodies and adhering to federal mandates.