The Supreme Court, Affirmative Action, and Bennington
On June 29, Bennington College President Laura Walker sent the following message to the Bennington community:
Dear Bennington Community,
Today, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down race-based admissions at U.S. colleges and universities. This is extremely disappointing for Bennington College and for higher education.
We will not let this ruling deter us. I emphatically reaffirm that Bennington is fully committed to welcoming students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds and being an inclusive, diverse, and global community characterized by a range of experiences, backgrounds, and viewpoints.
Bennington’s application review process has always been and will continue to be personalized, holistic, and based on a multifaceted review of each applicant. It considers many academic and non-academic factors in selecting students who can contribute to the community and benefit from a Bennington education.
We are reviewing the Supreme Court’s ruling closely alongside our admissions strategies with the aim to abide by the law while continuing our deep commitment to building a diverse and global Bennington community.
Our commitment to creating a diverse community and powerful learning environment is stronger than ever.
Sincerely,
Laura Walker
President