Undergraduate Admissions&

Affirmative Action

Maintaining Excellence In A Changing Maintaining Excellence In A Changing EnvironmentEnvironment

Fall Executive Board Meeting

August 19, 2003

Recent History

California: Proposition 209 (1996)California: Proposition 209 (1996) Abolished all public-sector programs in education Abolished all public-sector programs in education (incl. (incl.

admissions, recruiting and outreach)admissions, recruiting and outreach)

Texas: Hopwood Decision (1996)Texas: Hopwood Decision (1996) 55thth Circuit ruled against UT Circuit ruled against UT

University of Georgia (2000)University of Georgia (2000) Ruling declares consideration of race/gender violates Ruling declares consideration of race/gender violates

equal protection; University suspends use in admissionsequal protection; University suspends use in admissions University of Michigan (1997)University of Michigan (1997)

Undergraduate Admissions & Law School lawsuits Undergraduate Admissions & Law School lawsuits regarding use of race/ethnicity in admission decisionsregarding use of race/ethnicity in admission decisions

The Decisions

Gratz v. BollingerGratz v. Bollinger Undergrad admissions admits to Undergrad admissions admits to

assigning points in process for minority assigning points in process for minority studentsstudents

150 total points: 20 for race, athletes and 150 total points: 20 for race, athletes and socioeconomic statussocioeconomic status

Point system is declared unconstitutionalPoint system is declared unconstitutional

The Decisions

Grutter v. BollingerGrutter v. Bollinger Law School asserts that its policy is Law School asserts that its policy is

necessary because of a compelling state necessary because of a compelling state interest in diversityinterest in diversity

Critical MassCritical Mass Individual ReviewIndividual Review Supreme Court supports school’s use of Supreme Court supports school’s use of

narrow tailoringnarrow tailoring

Michigan Response

Pleased with the outcomePleased with the outcome Modifying applications for more infoModifying applications for more info

Family educational backgroundFamily educational background Family financial backgroundFamily financial background

Expensive endeavorExpensive endeavor Hire additional readersHire additional readers Longer processing timeLonger processing time

Georgia Tech Admissions

10 Years Ago10 Years Ago Current PolicyCurrent Policy

4 Components4 Components Holistic ReviewHolistic Review

Targeted RecruitmentTargeted Recruitment

Freshman Admission Criteria

High School Academic InformationHigh School Academic Information Standardized Test ScoresStandardized Test Scores Activities and LeadershipActivities and Leadership Personal StatementPersonal Statement

Freshman Class 2003

PROSPECTS 88,650

APPLICANTS 8,479

ACCEPTED 5,322

EXPECTED ENROLLMENT 2,200

As Strong As Ever

Admitted ClassAdmitted Class3.79 GPA3.79 GPA1337 SAT1337 SAT

Special Recruitment Efforts

ProgrammingProgramming MRTMRT FUTURESFUTURES Targeted ContactsTargeted Contacts

AlliancesAlliances CEISMCCEISMC Women In EngineeringWomen In Engineering

The Results

WomenWomen 1507 Admitted1507 Admitted 1344 SAT1344 SAT 3.84 GPA3.84 GPA

BlacksBlacks 334 Admitted334 Admitted 1286 SAT1286 SAT 3.70 GPA3.70 GPA

HispanicsHispanics 237 Admitted237 Admitted 1349 SAT1349 SAT 3.75 GPA3.75 GPA

Fall 2003 Freshman Pool

The Results

WomenWomen 608 Deposited608 Deposited 1311 SAT1311 SAT 3.81 GPA3.81 GPA

BlacksBlacks 126 Deposited126 Deposited 1262 SAT**1262 SAT** 3.70 GPA3.70 GPA

HispanicsHispanics 71 Deposited71 Deposited 1298 SAT1298 SAT 3.70 GPA3.70 GPA

Fall 2003 Freshman Profile

The Current Framework

Consideration of diversity under Powell’s Consideration of diversity under Powell’s concurring opinion in concurring opinion in BakkeBakke permits the use permits the use of race or ethnic background as a “plus”of race or ethnic background as a “plus”

The factor of race cannot be decisiveThe factor of race cannot be decisive Each applicant must be considered as an Each applicant must be considered as an

individualindividual No single characteristic defines what No single characteristic defines what

contribution a person can make to diversitycontribution a person can make to diversity

Source: Dennis Dunn, Deputy Attorney General

How Colleges are Responding

Legal Counsel Review of Policies/PracticesLegal Counsel Review of Policies/Practices Preparation for Next Wave of ChallengesPreparation for Next Wave of Challenges Study of Dissenting Opinions in Michigan Study of Dissenting Opinions in Michigan

CaseCase Seeking Creative Ways to Continue Seeking Creative Ways to Continue

Commitment to DiversityCommitment to Diversity

Next Steps for Tech

Determine What (if any) Changes Are Determine What (if any) Changes Are MadeMade

Continue to Expand Qualified PoolContinue to Expand Qualified Pool Continue to Strengthen Existing ProgramsContinue to Strengthen Existing Programs Everyone Must Articulate GT’s Diversity Everyone Must Articulate GT’s Diversity

InterestsInterests Remain Committed to Our Diversity GoalsRemain Committed to Our Diversity Goals

Discussion...