June 29, 2023

Contact: Melissa Villarin
Office: 916-327-5365
Office E-mail: mvillarin@cccco.edu

The California Statue University Contact: Claudia Keith
Office: 562-951-4800
E-mail: ckeith@calstate.edu

University of California Contact: Meredith Turner
Office: 916-296-2280
E-mail: meredith.turner@ucop.edu

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian, PhD, University of California President Michael V. Drake, MD, and California State University Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester, PhD, made the following statement today (Thursday, June 29) regarding the SCOTUS decision on the use of race in college admissions:

“As leaders of California’s public higher education institutions, we are disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision this week to prohibit the use of race in college admissions. The benefits of campus diversity are clear: It leads to higher quality education for all by reflecting a plurality of ideas and perspectives, and it results in increased community benefit when diverse graduates enter the workforce.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values at our institutions. We will continue to support programs and practices that seek to address historical inequities and ensure that our colleges and universities are reflective of California’s rich and dynamic diversity. We remain committed to creating educational opportunities for all Californians so that they can reach their full potential and so that all California communities can thrive.”

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving 1.8 million students per year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; and degree and certificate pathways. As the state’s engine for social and economic mobility, the California Community Colleges supports the Vision for Success, a strategic plan designed to improve student success outcomes, increase transfer rates and eliminate achievement gaps. For more information, please visit the California Community Colleges website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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