A 'Dubious Expediency': How Race-Preferential Admissions Policies on Campus Hurt Minority Students

Authors

Gail L. Heriot

Abstract

Mounting empirical research shows that race-preferential admissions policies are doing more harm than good. Instead of increasing the numbers of African Americans entering high-status careers, these policies reduce those numbers relative to what we would have had if colleges and universities had followed race-neutral policies. We have fewer African-American scientists, physicians, and engineers and likely fewer lawyers and college professors. If, as the evidence indicates, the effects of race-preferential admissions policies are exactly the opposite of what was originally intended, it is difficult to understand why anyone would wish to support them.

Keywords

affirmative action; mismatch

Document Type

Article

Year

2022

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