Harvard Sees Slight Decline in Black Student Enrollment Despite Affirmative Action Ban

In the aftermath of a Supreme Court ruling last year, Harvard University's freshman class has seen a slight decline in the number of Black students, with 14% of incoming students identifying as Black, compared to 18% in the previous class. This drop comes as the university and other selective institutions around the country navigate the end of affirmative action, which was previously used to promote diversity. Latino students, however, made up 16% of the class, a 2% increase, while Asian-American numbers remained the same at 37%. The decline in Black student enrollment has sparked concerns among advocates for diversity, who argue that Harvard must revisit its admissions practices to ensure a more inclusive campus environment.

Key Takeaways:

• Harvard's freshman class saw a 4% drop in Black students, with 14% of incoming students identifying as Black.
• Latino students made up 16% of the class, a 2% increase.
• Asian-American numbers remained the same at 37%.
• The decline in Black student enrollment has sparked concerns among advocates for diversity, who argue that Harvard must revisit its admissions practices.
• Experts suggest that the end of affirmative action is one of several factors affecting the makeup of freshman classes.
• Harvard's dean of admissions, William Fitzsimmons, has committed to fulfilling the university's mission to promote diversity, despite the challenges posed by the affirmative action ban.
• Coalitions like the Coalition for a Diverse Harvard are pushing for changes to Harvard's admissions practices, including reinstating test-optional applications and ending legacy and donor preferences.
• Richard Kahlenberg, director of the American Identity Project, has questioned how Harvard achieved racial diversity after the ban on affirmative action.

Statistics:

• 14% of Harvard's freshman class identified as Black (down from 18% in the previous class).
• 7.3% of Tufts University's students are Black (down to 4.7% in the latest class).
• 5% of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's students are Black (down from 15% in the previous class).
• 16% of Harvard's freshman class identified as Latino (up from 14% in the previous class).
• 37% of Harvard's freshman class identified as Asian-American (no change from the previous class).

Sources:

• AP News, "Harvard enrolls fewer Black students, mirroring concerns nationwide" (no date provided).
• AP News, "US colleges scrambling to adapt after affirmative action ban" (no date provided).
• Coalition for a Diverse Harvard (statement) (no date provided).
• American Identity Project (no date provided).
• Harvard University (statement) (no date provided).