March 2, 2025

Welcome to our weekly Sunday newsletter. This week we dive into how colleges are obscuring diversity data and Alicia Keys receives a historic Barbie honor.

Colleges Struggle to Measure Diversity After Supreme Court Ruling

By Karly Sarita Ford

When the Supreme Court struck down race-conscious admissions in 2023, many expected a sharp decline in diversity on college campuses. However, a year later, the impact remains difficult to assess. Some students are choosing not to disclose their race, while universities selectively present data in ways that make it hard to draw clear conclusions. The first demographic reports for the class of 2028 show inconsistencies, leaving higher education experts uncertain about how the ruling has truly affected campus diversity.

A growing number of students, particularly white students, do not see race as an essential part of their identity and opt out of self-identifying. Others fear that revealing their race—especially if they belong to historically underrepresented groups—could negatively affect their chances of admission. This trend is more pronounced at selective institutions, where nonresponse rates are significantly higher than at less selective schools. At Harvard, for example, the proportion of “race unknown” students doubled between 2023 and 2024, making it harder to measure shifts in campus demographics.

Universities also play a role in shaping public perceptions of diversity. Some institutions do not report the number of white students, while others count multiracial students multiple times or present international students separately to create the appearance of a more diverse student body. These strategic choices complicate efforts to determine the actual impact of the Supreme Court’s ruling. However, all colleges must submit standardized demographic data to the federal government’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), with the next report expected in spring 2025, which may provide a clearer picture.

That clarity may be short-lived. In 2027, federal guidelines will change how colleges categorize race and ethnicity, adding a Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) category and altering how Hispanic and multiracial students are classified. These adjustments will make it even more difficult to assess the long-term effects of race-neutral admissions policies. As long as students decline to disclose their racial identity and universities interpret data selectively, the true impact of the Supreme Court’s decision will remain elusive.

campus chronicles // hbcu edition

Bethune-Cookman University is poised to make history as the U.S. Tennis Association Florida prepares to donate $100,000 to construct the university’s first on-campus tennis courts.  B-CU is home to a women’s tennis team that competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The university has yet to establish a men’s tennis program. The Wildcats have so far struggled with off-site practice and competition, which has limited student involvement and presented logistical issues. The institution hopes that the on-campus facilities will improve its recruiting efforts, support player development, and create a culture of championship-winning athletics.

Jackson State University sophomore Josiah Osula is making waves in the classical music scene. Recently, he earned two prominent honors that underscore his exceptional talent and dedication. The Dallas native was awarded the $1,500 James Miles Musical Innovation Grant from the Black Violin Foundation, Inc., and triumphed in the statewide Music Teachers National Association competition for string instruments.  The James Miles Musical Innovation Grant specifically aims to support young musicians in their pursuit of musical education through various programs, including private lessons, summer music camps, or college courses. This funding will enable Osula to continue honing his craft this summer.

The announcement of a second anonymous gift of $10 million has Livingstone College in the news again, marking another significant milestone. The gift, one of several recent large donations, will support the university’s efforts to improve campus amenities and student living conditions. 

black history in quotes 

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culture

Barbie is honoring Alicia Keys with a 2025 Career of the Year doll, recognizing her impact in music alongside a second doll representing her recording and mix engineer, Ann Mincieli. This initiative, in collaboration with Mincieli and the She Is The Music organization, highlights both musical artists and behind-the-scenes industry roles, such as tour managers. Krista Berger, Mattel’s senior vice president of Barbie, stated that the collection aims to celebrate women in music while shedding light on lesser-known careers in the industry.

Our editor, Lisa D.Tinsley, would like to thank you for spending part of your day with KISA News Radio.

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