Responding to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Opinion on Race-Conscious Admissions

June 30, 2023

Dear Community Members,

Franklin Cummings Tech exists to produce economic equity through broadly accessible post-secondary options. Undoubtedly, yesterday’s majority Supreme Court decision banning the use of race-conscious Affirmative Action in college admissions threatens our collective ability to build a stronger democracy through higher education. As a Minority Serving Institution, we will hold fast to our mission to deliver transformative technical and trade education that leads to economic advancement. In addition, we will continue to stand as a beacon to learners from all backgrounds who reflect the diversity of the Greater Boston region.

As a co-signer of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s joint statement on the impact of this ruling, I urge you to read the response from our Commonwealth’s leadership. This regressive court opinion affects every one of us. In the coming weeks and months, I will work with the education community via the Commonwealth’s Advisory Council to Advance Representation in Education to advocate for admissions approaches that support diversity on college campuses. This group was convened proactively by Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler and Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega to ensure that we do not lose ground in expanding access to college and career readiness tools for Massachusetts students.

Our college programs will remain widely available to students from an array of marginalized communities. It is my belief that even with amelioration efforts within the law, this decision will reduce post-secondary education access for learners from underrepresented backgrounds, thereby squandering opportunities to build a more pluralistic society. In my dedication to the field of education access, I will advocate for ways to redress these negative impacts while ensuring that students underrepresented in higher education continue to feel welcome at Franklin Cummings Tech.

Today and every day, our college remains committed to helping prevent further setbacks to education access for all. Thank you for being a part of this community and for your steadfast commitment to equity in every dimension.

Sincerely,
Aisha Francis, Ph.D.