Perspectives on affirmative action in academic dental institutions: the U.S. Supreme Court rulings in the University of Michigan cases.
In June 2003 the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of using race as a factor in higher education admissions decisions. This article considers the impact of the Supreme Court decisions on admissions procedures at selected academic dental institutions (ADI) and their parent institutions. We interviewed fifty-eight leaders considered to be individual stakeholders at seven ADI and their related parent institutions, state dental associations, and state legislatures using a common set of questions about the Supreme Court decisions. Educators from the ADI and their parent institutions were consistent in their responses that the rulings upheld affirmative action as necessary to achieve diversity. State organized dentistry officials did not appear to be as aware as others of the rulings, whereas legislators were mixed in their responses. Except for the University of Michigan undergraduate admissions procedures, it remains to be seen what the impact will be for other higher education institutions and for academic dental institutions. Although the rulings have provided guidelines for achieving diversity using race/ ethnicity as one of several factors, the rulings will possibly be challenged, thus requiring vigilance on the part of parent institutions and their ADI to ensure compliance with the spirit of the rulings and to avoid attack from opponents of affirmative action.
Peterson
Melanie R
MR
School of Dentistry, Room 218, University of Louisville, 501 S. Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. mrpeterson@louisville.edu.
Kowolik
Joan E
JE
Coleman
Gary
G
Dietrich
Susan
S
Mascarenhas
Ana Karina
AK
McCunniff
Michael
M
Taylor
George
G
D001290:Attitude; D002961:Civil Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D008824:Michigan; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011287:Prejudice; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D012575:Schools, Dental / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D035521:Supreme Court Decisions; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence