CU-Boulder Sources on U.S. Supreme Court Affirmative Action Decisions

Published: June 17, 2003

NEWS TIP SHEET

Key campus administrators, faculty, staff and students at the University of Colorado at Boulder are available for comment regarding the forthcoming U.S. Supreme Court decisions on affirmative action in the University of Michigan cases.

Responses to the Supreme Court's decisions by CU-Boulder Chancellor Richard L. Byyny and Ofelia Miramontes, associate vice chancellor for diversity and equity, will be available soon after the decisions are announced.

CU-Boulder law Professor Emily Calhoun said schools and universities use flexible admission policies in choosing applicants because test scores and grade-point averages are generally believed to be very limited indicators of merit.

"Standardized test scores and grade-point averages measure only a very narrow range of abilities and achievements and are inadequate predictors of future success," said Calhoun. "Universities have looked beyond numbers to geographic residence, economic status, work experience and family connections in making admissions decisions."

In addition, the Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law at the University of Colorado School of Law will offer a panel presentation, "What Do the Michigan Affirmative Action Decisions Mean for Universities and Colleges? A Discussion by Constitutional Law Scholars," on July 1 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Lindsley Memorial Courtroom of the Fleming Law Building.

For more information on the panel, or to confirm attendance, contact Catherine Rafferty at (303) 492-8049 or Catherine.Rafferty@colorado.edu.

For information on the campus response to the court's decision, contact Monteith Mitchell in University Communications at (303) 492-5526 or Dirk Martin in the CU-Boulder Office of News Services at (303) 492-3140.

Following is the list of campus sources:

Key Contacts

Phil DiStefano

Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

(303) 492-5537

Phil.DiStefano@Colorado.Edu

Ron Stump

Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs

(303) 492-8477

Stump@Colorado.Edu

Ofelia Miramontes

Associate Vice Chancellor, Diversity and Equity