This article examines the legal and moral basis of affirmative action in science and engineering, in light of recent legal rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court. It argues that affirmative action programs can be morally and legally justified on the grounds that they enhance educational experiences and promote creativity, productivity, and success in…

A second review of the core student affirmative action program at the California State University is presented. The review was conducted to assess: (1) progress in implementing the program on each of the campuses; (2) the impact of the expanded outreach efforts; and (3) the success of the program in coordinating existing outreach services,…

This article is a critique of the Dworkinian theory of fairness in the context of Affirmative Action. Although Dworkin committed tremendous endeavors in an attempt to give a fairness argument backed by an empirical study, the question of whether affirmative action is fair remains inconclusive. The sample used in the study is unrepresentative, and…

The poor record of affirmative action plans in government demonstrates that the Carter administration's plan to reform the Civil Service is not working. It is the management that has failed to take the steps necessary to translate pronouncements into practice. (Author/EB)

Proposes a set of questions to help educational planners develop clear, coherent concepts in policy proposals. Guidelines must be used discerningly, depending on the degree of lucidity politically feasible for particular policy situations. Planners might want to formulate deliberately ambiguous policy concepts and let precise meanings evolve out…

Discusses the problem of lack of Black faculty members at medical schools, how this affects minority student enrollment, what can be done about the problem, and what is presently being done to reverse the trend. Suggests implementation of incentive programs to attract Black faculty to academic medicine. (JS)

Federal constitutional, statutory, and case law dealing with minority-targeted scholarships and admissions are reviewed. Applicable laws and standards, standing, admission and scholarship procedures, affirmative action, and holistic assessments are discussed. It is concluded that many existing affirmative action programs may violate the Fourteenth…

This paper argues that incorporation of relevant feminist and critical race literature into legal education can help students question their own assumptions about society and the law, creating links between abstract legal principles and concrete consequences for specific groups of employees. Implications for affirmative action are also examined.…

Reviews an unresolved case involving the termination of Sharon Taxman, a white business education teacher at Piscatawny (New Jersey) High School, as a reduction-in-force measure. An African American teacher with equal seniority was retained, based on the board's commitment to affirmative action. Taxman's 1993 suit was upheld, but a circuit court…

Explores attitudes of black Americans, including middle class black Americans, toward policies designed to ameliorate racial disadvantages. Data from two omnibus national opinion surveys enable the appraisal of black opinions about a variety of race-targeted policies. In each policy area, blacks are more favorable than whites toward government…

It is argued that annual reports required of Australian higher education institutions by the national affirmative action agency are inadequate to remedy the problem of employment discrimination. It is proposed that the problem is more complex, and more relevant information and detailed analysis is needed to make meaningful policy changes. (MSE)

Seven suggestions are offered for renewing affirmative action in higher education institutions: reinvigorate its moral roots; use a broad definition; study where it has worked well; support new scholarship on diversity; strengthen interinstitutional links; rewrite the language of racial relations; and address children's needs. (MSE)

A color-blind approach often signifies that an educator has not considered what racial/ethnic identity means to youngsters. Students want to find themselves reflected in the faces of teachers and other students. Color-conscious teachers seek out materials that positively reflect students' identities and initiate discussions about race and racism.…

A performance audit examined immediate, intermediate, and long-range effects of two minority graduate fellowship programs sponsored by the state of Illinois, the Illinois Minority Graduate Incentive Program (IMGIP) and the Illinois Consortium for Educational Opportunity Program (ICEOP). Findings show the diversification of minority doctoral study…

Using administrative data from the University of California at San Diego, the author explicitly identifies and studies students admitted under affirmative action programs. On average, these students earned grade point averages (GPAs) 0.30 points lower than those of nonaffirmative students. The difference in graduation rates is larger, with 57% of…