Brown University is responding to questions about race-conscious admissions criteria.
In a written statement, the university said the courts have upheld its right to “act affirmatively” to build a diverse student body. Brown’s statement makes it clear the university views diversity on campus as essential to its academic mission.
The statement follows the announcement by the U.S. Justice Department that it will revisit several cases involving race and college admissions as part of renewed scrutiny on affirmative action. One case, involving Harvard University, accuses the school of discriminating against Asian students by holding them to a higher bar for admission than other groups of students.
Both Harvard and Brown say they use race as one of many factors in admissions decisions.
