President’s speeches, letters, and articles
Subject: Supreme Court rules on race in admissions
June 29, 2023
Dear Reed community,
The Supreme Court has released its decision in a pair of cases challenging the use of race in college and university admissions.
The ruling undermines years of precedent established by the Supreme Court that had allowed race to be considered as one of many factors in admissions. Schools in states where race has been prohibited as a factor in admission experienced immediate declines in enrollment of students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Our approach to recruitment has created Reed’s most diverse and talented student body to date. Our classroom spaces are home to transformative learning experiences that thrive on the diverse perspective of students’ lived experiences. This decision threatens intellectual growth at all institutions of higher education that are dedicated to fostering knowledge.
It is too early to fully understand the impact of this decision on our higher education community. While the path will be difficult, we remain committed to making Reed a diverse and inclusive community. As our work continues, we will continue to provide updates as we work through the full implications of the decision.
Sincerely,
Audrey Bilger
President
Milyon Trulove
Vice President and Dean of Admission & Financial Aid