Washington, DC—In a strongly worded statement released today in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, AAC&U President Carol Geary Schneider underscored AAC&U’s continuing commitment to “support[ing] higher education institutions across all sectors in creating learning experiences through which all students engage productively with the diversity of ideas and experiences that characterize our world.”

Given its mission-level commitment to both liberal education and inclusive excellence, she noted, AAC&U remains “strongly committed to helping our members succeed in the long-term work of educating and graduating students—from all backgrounds—who will be both prepared and inspired to work for a more just and equitable democracy in the United States and for the expansion of human dignity and opportunity around the world.”

Noting that educators are “thrilled … by the Supreme Court’s decision to reaffirm … [the] compelling national interest” in campus diversity, she affirms that “diversity remains an essential component of educational excellence and of liberal education in the twenty-first century,” and urges that “the announcement of this Supreme Court decision…should be taken as a moment to rededicate ourselves to the significant work on both equity and diversity yet to be done.”

"Our nation's historic commitment to educating for democracy cannot truly be fulfilled until racial equality is achieved around access to excellence in higher education,” said AAC&U President-Elect Lynn Pasquerella. “The Supreme Court's decision highlights the significance of AAC&U's commitment to championing equity and inclusion in liberal education."

The full text of President Carol Geary Schneider’s statement can be found here:http://www.aacu.org/about/statements/2016/ut-fisher. See other statements from AAC&U on diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence here: http://www.aacu.org/resources/diversity-equity-and-inclusive-excellence.