Support for LAist comes from
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Stay Connected
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen
Podcasts Take Two
What does the SCOTUS decision on affirmative action mean for the UC system?
solid orange rectangular banner
()
Jun 23, 2016
Listen 8:43
What does the SCOTUS decision on affirmative action mean for the UC system?
The Supreme Court ruled 4-3 Thursday morning on a controversial diversity admissions policy at the University of Texas. The UC system has a similar policy. What's different?
A demonstrator with the American Association of University Women (AAUW) holds a sign outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, as the court heard oral arguments in the Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin affirmative action case. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
A demonstrator with the American Association of University Women (AAUW) holds a sign outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, as the court heard oral arguments in the Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin affirmative action case. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
(
Cliff Owen/AP
)

The Supreme Court ruled 4-3 Thursday morning on a controversial diversity admissions policy at the University of Texas. The UC system has a similar policy. What's different?

The Supreme Court ruled 4-3 Thursday morning on a controversial diversity admissions policy at the University of Texas at Austin. 

The case, Fisher v. University of Texas, was brought by Abigail Fisher, a white student in the state who claimed discrimination when she was denied admission to the campus.

High school students in Texas are guaranteed admission to a state university if they are in the top 10 percent of their graduating class. For those students outside of that 10 percent, the university considers — among many other factors — race, in determining 25 percent of its admitted students. The policy is aimed at increasing diversity on campuses. 

Here in California, there is a similar program: high school students in the top 9 percent of their class are guaranteed admission to UCs. California has its own history with using race as a factor in college admissions.

For reaction and analysis, Take Two spoke to Audrey Dow, senior vice president at the Campaign for College Opportunity, a state policy and research group that works to get more students into colleges. 

Press the blue play button above to hear the interview.