If we are not careful, our colleges will produce a group of close-minded, unscientific, illogical propagandists, consumed with immoral acts. Be careful, brethren! Be careful, teachers!
The Campus Battle Ground
The scenes of violent protests, shutdowns of free speech, faculty purges and more, have sadly become common place on our college campuses. Martin Luther King, Jr. warned us of this possibility a half century ago and his words now seem prescient. The Civil Rights movement of the 1960s began a massive correction of abuses towards minorities. As often happens, however, good intentions become corrupted.
Programs designed to open higher education to prospective minority students (affirmative action) morphed into permanent race-based admission structures. Long after the good intentions had won the day, the permanent quotas remained. Even worse, student life on campus became splintered into monolithic groups uninterested in and often hostile towards other points of view.
Efforts to move admissions back to objective, performance-based criteria were met with accusations of racism and litigation. College life, at the moment, continues to fester along ethnic, cultural and political lines. Change is coming though.
Equality of Opportunity
In June 2023, the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruled that affirmative action based admissions in colleges violate the equal protection clause of the US Constitution. An important note in the SCOTUS opinion is that the colleges in question (Harvard and UNC) did not have a “sunset” date for their affirmative action programs. The lack of a “sunset” date implied permanent intention and was at odds with prior SCOTUS rulings.
The abolishment of affirmative action admissions moves the process back towards performance-based evaluation. High achievers of any background will have an equal playing field in the competition for limited seats at elite schools. Will this be the start of college campus change?
Campus Disarmament
Knowledge is power. This truism applies not only to the professor but also to the student. Project college student populations over the next decade and consider that students will enter their institutions with broader and deeper intellects. In most cases their knowledge base will have been grounded in the construct of their family life. These “kids” are not going to be so easily swayed to the attractions of the latest fad or call to protest.
The emphasis on performance-based admissions will inexorably lead to faculties adapting to a student body able to challenge their teachers over ill conceived classroom concepts. The parents of these students will also be a part of this strategic change. They are invested in the success of their children. It is the very reason their offspring are able to attend a college campus. The change is coming.
Florida Weighs Equal Opportunity
The June SCOTUS ruling presented Florida with direction regarding college admission criteria. The Bright Futures Scholarship Program is funded by the state lottery and covers up to 100% of tuition and fees for in state schools. Over 100,000 Bright Futures scholarships are awarded each year.
Prior to the June admissions decision, Bright Futures provided eligibility to students associated with a minority recognition program. These programs had college entrance exams (ACT/SAT) waived for their applicants.
Florida HB 25 seeks to abide by performance based admissions criteria and revokes specific minority recognition program eligibility. All aspects of Bright Futures remain intact excepting minority status. All applicants are to be evaluated using identical Bright Futures requirements.
The foundation of America’s appeal to the world is: opportunity. Millions of legal immigrants have flocked to the United States for the chance to provide their children the opportunity to learn and prosper.
COS encourages each of us to work with our legislators to ensure that our system of education promotes fairness and free exchange of thought.
