New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of state attorneys general are calling on colleges and universities to keep their student bodies diverse — even after recent legal setbacks to affirmative action.
In a joint op-ed published by Inside Higher Ed, James and her counterparts from seven other states encouraged schools to adopt admissions policies that lawfully consider socioeconomic and geographic factors. The move comes after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down race-conscious admissions and the U.S. Department of Justice issued a warning against using race “proxies.”
“Abandoning consideration of these elements of an applicant’s background is not a legal requirement — it’s a political choice,” the op-ed reads. “Fairness demands [diverse admissions], equal opportunity requires it, and the future of our country depends on it.”
The coalition argues that standardized test scores and GPAs don’t tell the whole story, especially for students from under-resourced communities. They pointed to the recent cancellation of the College Board’s Landscape tool — which gave colleges key data about students’ high schools and neighborhoods — as a loss for equity in admissions.
A race-neutral path forward
Despite legal changes, the Supreme Court acknowledged that schools could pursue race-neutral alternatives. The AGs say geographic and economic indicators fall squarely into that category — and are still legal to use.
“These tools level the playing field — not by lowering standards, but by lifting students up according to their merit and the obstacles they have overcome,” the op-ed states.
Fighting a chilling effect
The AGs warned that without a clear commitment to using available tools, colleges may retreat to old practices that favor wealth and privilege. That, they say, would shut out many first-generation and low-income students who already face barriers to access.
“Diversity is not a box to check; it is a vital engine of education and democracy,” the op-ed reads. “Classrooms that bring together students from different walks of life prepare all graduates to lead a diverse society, foster innovation, and strengthen our communities.”
A united front
In addition to James, the statement was signed by the attorneys general of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, and Washington. The group emphasized that the responsibility now falls to each institution to preserve opportunity and reflect the full range of American talent.
“We cannot allow the Supreme Court’s decision—and the chilling effect in its wake—to undo decades of progress,” the coalition wrote. “Colleges and universities must honor the promise of equal opportunity. The future of our country depends on it.”
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