The Department of Education announced Tuesday it is rescinding guidelines on affirmative action, effectively advising colleges and universities that the consideration of race and ethnicity in admissions decisions is beyond constitutional requirements. By revoking the Obama-era guidelines, which praise the benefits of diverse learning environments not only for students of color but for the entire nation, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and the Trump administration have again signaled a disregard for civil rights. While Supreme Court decisions are the only legally binding guidance on affirmative action—they allow consideration of race if other methods have failed to sufficiently diversify an institution—the presidential guidelines nevertheless make an impact on admissions policymakers.
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