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Even With Affirmative Action, Blacks and Hispanics Are More Underrepresented at Top Colleges Than 35 Years Ago

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Summary

This article examines the underrepresentation of black and Hispanic students at top US colleges and universities since 1980. Despite decades of affirmative action, black and Hispanic students are still more underrepresented than they were 35 years ago, with the gap between students and the college-aged population widening for Hispanics. The article examines the data from 100 schools including the Ivy League, University of California campuses and public flagship universities, and the article suggests that these underrepresentation issues begin earlier in elementary and secondary schools, resulting in a "cascading set of obstacles" that prevent minority students from attending highly selective colleges.

Q&As

What are the current levels of representation of black and Hispanic students at top colleges and universities?
Black students are currently 6 percent of freshmen at elite schools, while Hispanic students make up 16 percent.

How have black and Hispanic students fared since the introduction of affirmative action 35 years ago?
Black and Hispanic students have not gained ground at highly selective institutions since the introduction of affirmative action 35 years ago.

What factors contribute to persistent underrepresentation of black and Hispanic students in highly selective colleges?
Persistent underrepresentation of black and Hispanic students in highly selective colleges often stems from equity issues that begin earlier, such as less experienced teachers, fewer advanced courses, lower-quality instructional materials, and inadequate facilities in elementary and secondary schools with large numbers of black and Hispanic students.

What is the impact of the introduction of the multiracial category in 2008 on the representation of black students in the Ivy League?
The introduction of the multiracial category in 2008 has slightly reduced the share of black students in the Ivy League.

How have the shares of white, Asian, Hispanic and black students changed at the University of California campuses, Ivy League, liberal arts colleges, other top universities, and public flagship universities since 1980?
The share of white students at many of these schools has dropped, in some cases below 50 percent, while the share of Asian students has increased. The number of Hispanic and black freshmen on the University of California campuses declined immediately after California’s affirmative action ban took effect. Black students remain underrepresented in a number of flagships in states with a large share of college-age residents who are black. At liberal arts colleges, both blacks and Hispanics have gained ground in a handful of colleges, such as Amherst and Pomona.

AI Comments

👍 This article is incredibly informative and provides a comprehensive overview of the issue of underrepresentation of blacks and Hispanics in the nation's top colleges. The authors do a great job of breaking down the issue and providing relevant statistics.

👎 This article only scratches the surface of the issue of underrepresentation of black and Hispanic students in higher education. The authors do not provide any solutions or concrete steps to address the issue.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about how, even with affirmative action, black and Hispanic students are still more underrepresented at the nation’s top colleges and universities than they were 35 years ago. The article goes in-depth, talking about how different groups are represented at the top colleges, and how the gap has widened between students and the college-age population. It also talks about how certain equity issues, like having experienced teachers and advanced courses, can contribute to this underrepresentation.

Friend: Wow, that's really concerning. It's hard to believe that even with affirmative action, there's still such a gap between these groups and the college-age population. It's clear that there needs to be more done to ensure that minorities have the same access to higher education.

Me: Absolutely. There's a lot of work to be done to bridge the gap, and it starts with addressing the equity issues that exist in elementary and secondary schools. We need to make sure that all students have access to the same high-quality education so that they have an equal chance of succeeding in college.

Action items

Advocate for increased funding for elementary and secondary schools with large numbers of black and Hispanic students to ensure they have experienced teachers, advanced courses, high-quality instructional materials and adequate facilities.
Educate college admissions officers on the importance of considering race or ethnicity as one element in a holistic admissions policy.
Support initiatives that increase the number of black and Hispanic students at less selective colleges and universities.

Technical terms

Affirmative Action: A policy or program designed to redress past discrimination against certain groups, such as women and minorities, by taking positive steps to ensure equal opportunity.
Underrepresented: Represented in numbers that are disproportionately lower than the numbers of people in the population as a whole.
Overrepresented: Represented in numbers that are disproportionately higher than the numbers of people in the population as a whole.
Holistic Admissions Policy: A type of admissions policy that takes into account a variety of factors, such as academic performance, extracurricular activities, and personal qualities, when making admissions decisions.
Equity Issues: Issues related to fairness and justice in the distribution of resources and opportunities.
Office for Civil Rights: A federal agency within the U.S. Department of Education that is responsible for enforcing civil rights laws in education.
National Association for College Admission Counseling: A professional organization that provides resources and support to college admissions counselors.
Ivy League: An athletic conference composed of eight private universities in the northeastern United States.
Multiracial: A person who is of two or more races.
Asian-American: A person of Asian descent who is a citizen or resident of the United States.
Public Flagship Universities: A public university that is the most prestigious and selective in its state.
Native American: A person who is a member of any of the indigenous peoples of the Americas.