Middlebury College's Position

The Supreme Court has rejected the use of race as a “plus” factor in higher education admissions, ending an era of inclusive admissions practices as we know it. We will abide by the law as we stay true to our mission and commitment to create and maintain an inclusive community with full and equitable participation for all. The majority opinion concludes by saying that “nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.” The justices’ decisions considered the impacts on students seeking admission to institutions of higher education as well as the voices of those who filed amicus briefs in the cases, including Middlebury College. As stated in our Action Plan for Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, “The work of promoting racial justice, eliminating oppression, and creating a more equitable and inclusive community falls on all of us.” 

As shared in our spring message about inclusive admissions, we know that students from diverse backgrounds who learn from each other and are exposed to a variety of life experiences, talents and interests are better prepared and more successful in our global network. Because creating a robust and inclusive public square has always been Middlebury’s mission, it will continue to be a central part of how we evaluate applicants for admission.