During a meeting in May, the state Board of Regents agreed on a policy update aimed at increasing diversity at the state’s colleges and universities.
The policy, originally set in 1977, stated the Utah System of Higher Education prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, pregnancy or military service while promoting equal opportunity and diversity.
At the same time, the policy called for affirmative action in the hiring of faculty and staff, but it said nothing about the admittance of students.
The new policy states: “Equal opportunity and diversity strengthen the institutions of higher education, stimulate creativity, promote the exchange of ideas and enrich campus life.”
It also states that the Regents “value equal opportunity and diversity” while directing institutions “to seek qualified students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.”
Regents decided to re-evaluate their own stance on the issue after the state Legislature released the audit of the U School of Medicine, which claimed that the school possibly admitted minority students and female students over white male students, Regents decided to re-evaluate their own stance on the diversity issue.
Regents say their new policy is free of quotas and is simply a suggestion to seek out applicants who are different.
But this kind of policy has angered many state lawmakers, including Rep. Carl Saunders, R-Ogden, who said this type of policy should be categorized as anti-discrimination.
Saunders, whose son and grandson were not admitted to the U medical school, called for the audit of the school.
He was even more disappointed to learn the Regents decided to adjust their own views on their diversity policy.
But U officials stand behind the board’s policy.
“The decision the Regents have made is the right decision,” said Dave Pershing, U senior vice president for academic affairs. “And it always will be.”
Pershing said it is evident by a recently made decision upheld in Michigan courts that diversity is something universities have the ability to consider in the admission process.
The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the decision of a lower court that ruled against a school’s right to consider race in the admissions process.