Which case upheld the use of race as a factor in admissions for educational diversity?

Which case upheld the use of race as a factor in admissions for educational diversity?

• A. Grutter v. Bollinger (2003)
• B. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
• C. Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
• D. Fisher v. University of Texas (2013)

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is that race can be considered as a factor in college admissions to promote educational diversity, but only within a holistic review and as a narrowly tailored approach rather than a quota. In Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), the Supreme Court upheld the University of Michigan Law School’s policy because it treated race as one factor among many in a holistic process aimed at achieving a diverse student body. The Court stressed that diversity is a compelling educational interest and that the policy was narrowly tailored and not a quota, allowing such race-conscious admission practices to proceed. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and Brown v. Board of Education (1954) deal with segregation and desegregation in general and do not support using race as a permissible factor to achieve diversity in admissions. Fisher v. University of Texas (2013) also upheld race-conscious admissions in its context, but Grutter is the foundational case that first recognized and validated this approach as constitutional, making it the best answer here.

The idea being tested is that race can be considered as a factor in college admissions to promote educational diversity, but only within a holistic review and as a narrowly tailored approach rather than a quota. In Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), the Supreme Court upheld the University of Michigan Law School’s policy because it treated race as one factor among many in a holistic process aimed at achieving a diverse student body. The Court stressed that diversity is a compelling educational interest and that the policy was narrowly tailored and not a quota, allowing such race-conscious admission practices to proceed.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and Brown v. Board of Education (1954) deal with segregation and desegregation in general and do not support using race as a permissible factor to achieve diversity in admissions. Fisher v. University of Texas (2013) also upheld race-conscious admissions in its context, but Grutter is the foundational case that first recognized and validated this approach as constitutional, making it the best answer here.