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Information on the U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Race-Conscious Admissions 

On June 29, 2023, in a 6-3 vote,  striking down Harvard University's and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s race-conscious admission policies as violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

This webpage is intended to provide relevant information regarding the ruling, as well as the impact and implications of the decision on Skidmore’s admissions practices going forward. FAQs will be added and/or updated as information becomes available. 

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FAQ's

The Court heard two cases, Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina. The plaintiffs in these cases asked the Court to declare race-conscious admissions unconstitutional in college and university admissions, that is, admissions policies and practices that consider race as one factor among many elements contributing to an admissions decision. 

The Supreme Court struck down colleges’ and universities' use of race-conscious admissions nationwide, meaning colleges and universities can no longer take race into consideration as a factor in admissions decisions.

We are consulting with legal counsel to fully understand the impact of the decision in order to comply with the law.

A holistic process is a mission-aligned review of an application that considers the whole applicant, taking into consideration multiple, intersecting factors— academic, nonacademic, and contextual— which make each applicant unique. The goal is to identify an applicant's likelihood for academic success and ability to contribute to the community at Skidmore.

Race has been a single factor among many components of our holistic admissions process that has been used when considering a candidate for admission. 

Skidmore’s commitment to diversity – and to the tangible benefits a diverse community provides – is unwavering. Our history and traditions celebrate and support diversity in many ways, from the Opportunity Program (established in 1973) to more recent programs such as the Racial Justice Initiative. We firmly believe that many diversities are essential to the creation of a rich, meaningful learning environment and educational experience.

Now that we know what the decision says, we’re determining what steps we will need to take. We also anticipate that in the next few months there will be opportunities for the community to gather and reflect on the Supreme Court’s decision. Meanwhile, Skidmore has joined with many higher education institutions and organizations in asserting commitments to diversity, including the and the . 

Admissions-related questions from prospective students or families may be sent to: DeanOfAdmissions@skidmore.edu 

Media inquiries may be sent to: Sara Miga, Sr. Director of External Relations and Strategic Communications at smiga@skidmore.edu. 

Yes. The Counseling Center is committed to providing a welcoming and culturally-responsive space for all. For students who would like support as they process their reactions, the Counseling Center is open during the summer from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Please call 518-580-5555 or stop by their office on the first floor of Jonsson Tower to set up a time to talk with a counselor.

For students who are away from campus over the summer, 91 has partnered BetterMynd to provide access to teletherapy with a diverse group of therapists across the country.  Students have access to up to 12 sessions without charge.