Abstract
Higher education cannot afford to lose affirmative action programs which are crucial to creating a diverse educational environment. Yet the current political climate is turbulent with affirmative action abolitionists threatening many programs with litigation. This article strongly recommends that student affairs professionals assume the role of social change agents, advocate for effective and legal affirmative action programs in postsecondary institutions, and prepare a planned response to possible legal threats. In order to better understand current issues surrounding affirmative action, this article defines affirmative action and its benefits to higher education, places affirmative action in the historical context of the civil rights movement, reviews the relevant laws and United States Supreme Court rulings, and sketches the current political and legal landscape. This article concludes with specific recommendations for protecting and promoting affirmative action.
Recommended Citation
Bradley, Carol
(2008)
"Advocating for Affirmative Action in Higher Education,"
MAGIS: Vol. 2:
Iss.
1, Article 7.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/magis/vol2/iss1/7