W.Va. Universities React To Supreme Court Rulings

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled Thursday morning that the admissions programs of Harvard University and the University of North Carolina violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment by using race as a factor in admissions.

The ruling upends more than 40 years of affirmative action in the college admissions process and universities across the state are reacting. 

In a written statement, West Virginia University (WVU) said it does not anticipate changes to their admissions process.

“West Virginia University’s commitment to diversity remains unchanged although the legal landscape governing college admissions is shifting. We will continue to follow the law, and our university values ensure that we will continue to attract students to our institution where we offer the best education and campus experience to those who choose to call WVU home. Undergraduate students who meet WVU’s academic criteria are currently admitted on a rolling basis, and we do not anticipate changes to this process based on the U.S. Supreme Court decision; however, we are reviewing all of our policies to ensure they comply with new admissions guidance.”

Marshall University said it does not apply affirmative action criteria to the enrollment process.

“Marshall University is reviewing the ruling and how it may affect us in the future. Currently, while the university encourages and promotes diversity in regard to our enrollment which enriches the learning experience for all students, we have not applied any affirmative action criteria to the enrollment process.”

Similarly, Shepherd University said it does not take race or ethnicity or country of origin into consideration in evaluating applications for admission to the university.

“As a public regional West Virginia institution, we [Shepherd University] are committed to providing access to all applicants who satisfy the State’s minimum standards of academic preparation for baccalaureate education.”

On Friday, the court ruled in another case, Biden v Nebraska, that the Biden administration does not have the authorization to forgive the student loan debts.

WVU said that it works to remove as many financial barriers as possible for students.

“We recognize the challenges student loan debt can create and we work to remove as many financial barriers as possible to allow students access to higher education. Our financial aid experts in the WVU Hub assist students and their families with a variety of programs, resources and support. Additional information is available at financialaid.wvu.edu.

As a result, average student loan debt for May 2022 WVU graduates earning bachelor’s degrees was well below the national average, and 41 percent graduated with zero debt.

We continue to look for opportunities to help navigate what can be a complex and confusing landscape. For example, the Center for Financial Literacy and Education, established in 2015 in the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics, offers a variety of programs, including student loan and credit seminars.”