Harvard, Reaffirm Your Commitment To Racial Diversity

In the face of brazen governmental recommendations, Harvard must uphold the value of diversity.

About two weeks ago, the Department of Education released a Dear Colleague letter declaring all race-based decision-making by federally funded institutions illegal under the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision outlawing race-conscious admissions.

Last year, after the long-overdue release of the class of 2028 admissions data revealed a four percent drop in Black enrollment, I called on Harvard to lay out its plans for increasing racial diversity in admissions. In light of the Trump administration’s attacks on race-conscious practices, that call to action remains more important than ever.

For the sake of maintaining diversity within its walls, Harvard must adopt a proactive approach.

Since the Supreme Court’s ruling, Harvard has already made promising strides to bolster the diversity of its student body. In January, the College announced that it will join QuestBridge’s National College Match Program, beginning with the class of 2030. While Harvard is the last Ivy League school to join the program — which aims to attract top students from low-income backgrounds — the move is an important one.

The College also implemented several new application questions, including one asking students to reference how their life experiences and unique perspectives will contribute to the diverse student body at Harvard. To some, the question has been dubbed “the diversity essay.”

Questions like this create important opportunities for students to express relevant aspects of their background and identity while remaining in compliance with the Court’s decision.

But the Department of Education’s new guidance complicates things. The letter declared schools may not use students’ personal essays, extracurriculars, or other indicators to predict a student’s race and favor or disfavor students.

The letter adopts a broad, arguably illegitimate, interpretation of the SFFA decision beyond admissions practices. While the guidance is nonbinding and lacks the force of law, the Department has threatened serious repercussions, including loss of federal funding, if institutions do not comply.

In the last fiscal year, Harvard received $686 million from federal agencies, representing approximately 11 percent of the University’s operating revenue. The loss of this funding could imperil essential programs, including financial aid.

A common refrain to help mitigate the Supreme Court’s affirmative action decision holds that Harvard should implement socioeconomic affirmative action. The idea is a good one, but other actions operating on a shorter timeframe would do more immediate good.

Harvard should begin by reaffirming its commitment to diversity from the top down in light of the Department of Education’s letter. An email from University President Alan M. Garber ’76 emphasizing the values of diversity and a holistic application review process would go a long way towards easing the minds of both current students and prospective applicants of color. Speaking up, even when it proves difficult, shows strength and true commitment to diversity.

Harvard should also keep its diversity essay question and add additional supplemental questions to give students further opportunities to share their backgrounds, despite the Department of Education’s best attempts to undermine such practices.

Finally, Harvard should continue to utilize interviews to allow applicants to highlight their unique background and identity. By connecting through conversation, Harvard can ensure students will positively contribute to Harvard’s campus and feel a sense of belonging once they arrive on campus rather than feel stifled by anti-diversity policies.

In a world where diversity is under attack, Harvard has a chance to get ahead of harmful political policies and take concrete steps to protect racial diversity. But it will take an institution who believes its core value of diversity is bigger than petty politics.

Let us not allow a Supreme Court decision to dictate and distract from our core values. Do the right thing, Harvard. Reaffirm your commitment to racial diversity.

Dalevyon L.J. Knight ’27, an Associate Editorial Editor, is a double concentrator in Chemistry and History and Science in Adams House