Updates regarding the upcoming ruling on affirmative action

Dear Skidmore Community,

In the coming weeks, the Supreme Court is expected to deliver a final decision on two cases concerning the constitutionality of affirmative action in higher education – one against Harvard University and the other against the University of North Carolina – which were presented last fall as part of the 2022 session. The ruling is widely anticipated to have significant – if not yet precisely knowable – impacts on race-conscious admissions policies.

Like so many of our peers in higher education, Skidmore is closely monitoring these cases with deep concern about the potential impact on the recruitment and admissions of talented students from a wide range of backgrounds and identities, not just at Skidmore but across our country.

I write today to reaffirm to our community that our mission – the education of a diverse population of talented students who are eager to engage actively in the learning process – remains unchanged. Our admissions goal to attract, admit, and welcome a diverse class of students each year, and our vision of building an ever-more inclusive and welcoming future at Skidmore, remain unchanged.

Though we cannot fully anticipate the court’s ruling or its long-term ramifications, we are actively assessing what policies and procedures may be most affected. Leaders from across campus are planning how we might adapt to possible changes to current legal provisions that permit the consideration of race as one of the many factors in admissions decisions.

Members of the President’s Cabinet, including Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Mary Lou Bates and incoming Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Jessica Ricker, along with offices including Finance and Administration and the Opportunity Program, are conducting thorough audits of our current policies and programs. We are consulting with the Board of Trustees, external counsel, and partners and colleagues in the New York Six Liberal Arts Consortium (NY6), the Liberal Arts College Racial Equity Leadership Alliance (LACRELA), and other national organizations for their expertise as we navigate the possible outcomes. Our co-authored statement with LACRELA appeared in Inside Higher Education last week and was recently featured in Forbes.

When the decision is announced, we will share resources and perspectives and will help educate our community about the implications and consequences of the decision. Of course, Skidmore will operate within the legal parameters of the decision, and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout our community remains a fundamental commitment of our College.

Sincerely,

Marc Conner 
President