University admissions process back on track

By Laurel Thomas Gnagey

The University has resumed its admissions process across all schools and colleges after a brief suspension. U-M had halted enrollment following a Dec. 29 court ruling, which overturned, pending review of a related appeal, a previous court decision that had allowed U-M and two other state universities to delay Proposal 2 implementation.

In a statement to the campus Jan. 10, Provost Teresa Sullivan wrote that since uncertainty remains about how the courts ultimately will interpret the proposal, the University would move forward cautiously and admit the rest of the upcoming class without consideration of race and gender.

“We cannot sustain any further delay in our admissions process without harming our ability to enroll a class of students for the 2007-08 academic year,” Sullivan said.  “Our overriding concern is enrolling a strong incoming class, both at the undergraduate level and in our graduate and professional programs. Additional delays may cause us to lose applicants, or make it harder for us to enroll the outstanding students we have admitted.”

“Of course, we will recognize exceptions provided in the amendment including one for federally funded programs,” Sullivan said. The deadline for undergraduate applications will remain Feb. 1.

U-M, Michigan State and Wayne State universities had sought to delay implementation of Proposal 2, the Constitutional amendment approved by voters in November that ends preferences in admissions, hiring, and contracting on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. The universities argued that it would be unfair to applicants to change processes in the middle of their admissions and financial cycles. U.S. District Court Judge David M. Lawson agreed, and Dec. 19 ordered the delay of implementation from Dec. 22, 2006 to July 1, 2007. His decision was suspended 10 days later by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, pending that court’s review of a related appeal. 

A number of lawsuits on both sides of the issue remain to be settled, including one filed by a coalition of civil rights groups, including the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action By Any Means Necessary (BAMN), and others.  On  Jan. 10—the day Sullivan reopened admissions—BAMN, et. al. made an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court to intervene and reinstate Judge Lawson’s order giving the three universities more time to comply with Prop. 2. The University has been named defendant in a number of the suits, Sullivan said.

“The lawsuits in the state and federal courts will proceed, and we will defend ourselves against those challenges as well as any others that may arise. After February we will have benefit of Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm’s executive order review to provide further guidance and clarity.” After the November election the governor instructed the Michigan Civil Rights Commission to investigate the impact of Proposal 2 on state programs and report back by February.

In the meantime, Sullivan said the Diversity Blueprints task force has begun work to identify creative ways to achieve diversity on campus. (See related story this page).

“The University of Michigan is a dedicated and creative community, and we will seek innovative new ways to sustain our diversity within the boundaries of the law. We must keep the doors of opportunity open for all.”