Official Blog | UCGPC

June 29th, 2023

On behalf of the University of California Graduate & Professional Council, I express our profound disappointment regarding the recent decision by the Supreme Court of the United States to ban affirmative action in college admissions. Affirmative action has played a crucial role in addressing historical and systemic inequalities that persist within the classrooms, labs, and offices of colleges and universities.

The decision to ban affirmative action threatens to perpetuate the existing disparities that minority communities face in accessing higher education. We echo calls by the University of California Office of the President and others to evaluate college applicants based on a variety of factors, including:

• Academic accomplishments in light of a student’s life experiences and special circumstances
• Quality of academic performance relative to the educational opportunities available in the applicant’s high school
• Recent, marked improvement in academic performance as demonstrated by GPA and the quality of coursework completed or in progress; and
• Special talents, achievements, skills, or experiences.

Education can be an instrument of empowerment and a catalyst for positive change. We will continue to support initiatives aimed at fostering diversity and dismantling systemic barriers that hinder the realization of equal educational opportunities. We will continue to advocate for a future where equity and justice in higher education are not merely ideals but concrete realities.

In solidarity,

Hayden Schill

President, University of California Graduate & Professional Council