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Opinion: Using admissions to diversify our campus

January 28, 2003

The U.S. Supreme Court case that examines the use of race in admissions at the University of Michigan has put the spotlight on how race is considered when admitting students to UW–Madison. At the request of the Badger Herald, UW–Madison Provost Peter Spear submitted the following Op/Ed piece, which appeared in the Jan. 28 issue of the student newspaper.

The United States Supreme Court has decided to address the constitutionality of the race-conscious admissions practices of the University of Michigan. This has focused national attention on so-called “affirmative action” in college admissions, and it has raised questions about our own admissions practices here at UW–Madison. We do not follow the same undergraduate admissions practices as the University of Michigan, but we do share the same objectives. Let me explain why.

Our undergraduate student body is over 90 white. If you walk across Bascom Hill, you will see mostly white faces. If you walk into any classroom, you will see mostly white faces. Our undergraduate student body is only about 2 percent African American, 2 percent Hispanic/ Latino, 1 percent Native American, and 4 percent Asian American — numbers that do not reflect contemporary society and the dramatic social and demographic changes that are sweeping the country. As a state university, we have a responsibility to include Wisconsin students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Furthermore, the quality of education here at UW–Madison is enhanced when the campus reflects the diversity of our society. Having a diverse student body (and faculty and staff) allows us to learn from each other as we share our differing perspectives, personal values, customs and life experiences. It also helps prepare students for careers in a diverse world in which they will work with a wide variety of people.

As with any important goal, we cannot sit back passively and hope diversity happens all by itself. We must take actions – act affirmatively — to diversify our student body. Here is how we approach the challenge:

  • We recruit students from all racial and ethnic backgrounds. We actively encourage students of color to apply to UW–Madison and to enroll if they are admitted.
  • Our admissions goal is to select students who can succeed here at UW–Madison and who will contribute to the University community.
  • To do this, we use a holistic approach that looks at the applicant as a total person. We look at many different academic and non-academic factors in determining a student’s potential for success and potential contributions to the University. However, unlike the University of Michigan undergraduate admissions, we do not use a point system.
  • The main thing we look at is the student’s academic record, including class rank, GPA, and ACT or SAT scores. In evaluating the academic record, we take into account the rigor of the student’s high-school work — whether he or she took easy or challenging courses, advanced placement courses, and so on.
  • We also look for special abilities, accomplishments, and contributions outside the classroom. We look for students with demonstrated leadership potential, a strong service background, athletic or artistic ability, or other qualities that will contribute to the intellectual, social, and geographic diversity of our community. We also take into account whether they are a military veteran or the child of a UW–Madison alum.
  • Finally, we consider the race and the ethnic and socio-economic background of the student. To do so is consistent with the procedures deemed to be legal in the Bakke Supreme Court decision of 1978.

Critics of affirmative action say that only “merit” should be used in making admissions decisions. They sometimes imply that students of color who are admitted to UW–Madison are less qualified than their white classmates and that they are here only because they are racial minorities. To this I respond that there are many factors that determine a student’s merit — that is, to his or her ability to succeed at the University and to contribute to our community. We take all of those factors into account in our admissions decisions. No one is admitted solely by virtue of his or her race. Everyone who is admitted has the ability to succeed.

It is premature to predict how the outcome of the Michigan cases will affect our admissions practices. There are many possibilities. For example, the Supreme Court could rule that Michigan’s undergraduate point system is unconstitutional but that considering race as one factor in admissions continues to be permissible. Because we do not use a point system, such a ruling would uphold our admissions practices. Another possibility is that the Supreme Court would decide that race no longer can be a factor considered in admissions. Such a ruling would be unfortunate because it would make it much more difficult, if not impossible, to achieve our goals of diversity and quality education.

In the meantime, we will continue to use the admissions and recruiting practices we have in place to diversify our campus. We believe this is the way it should be because our community should reflect the world in which we live and because doing so enhances the quality of education for all our students.