A 'Dubious Expediency': How Race-Preferential Admissions Policies on Campus Hurt Minority Students

The Heritage Foundation, Special Report No. 167 (2015)

San Diego Legal Studies Paper No. 17-242

40 Pages Posted: 27 Dec 2016 Last revised: 5 Jan 2017

See all articles by Gail L. Heriot

Gail L. Heriot

American Civil Rights Project; U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Manhattan Institute

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: August 31, 2015

Abstract

Mounting empirical research shows that race-preferential admissions policies are doing more harm than good. Instead of increasing the numbers of African Americans entering high-status careers, these policies reduce those numbers relative to what we would have had if colleges and universities had followed race-neutral policies. We have fewer African-American scientists, physicians, and engineers and likely fewer lawyers and college professors. If, as the evidence indicates, the effects of race-preferential admissions policies are exactly the opposite of what was originally intended, it is difficult to understand why anyone would wish to support them.

Keywords: affirmative action, mismatch

Suggested Citation

Heriot, Gail L., A 'Dubious Expediency': How Race-Preferential Admissions Policies on Campus Hurt Minority Students (August 31, 2015). The Heritage Foundation, Special Report No. 167 (2015), San Diego Legal Studies Paper No. 17-242, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2890328

Gail L. Heriot (Contact Author)

American Civil Rights Project ( email )

P.O. Box 12207
Dallas, TX 75225
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.americancivilrightsproject.org/

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Suite 1150
Washington, DC 20425

Manhattan Institute ( email )

52 Vanderbilt Avenue
New York, NY 10017
United States

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