Increasing diversity without affirmative action

Much effort has been made to increase the diversity of Wisconsin’s public universities. Many UW campuses have created campaigns to attract those who are not white. It has been a struggle. More than 89% of the student body at UW La Crosse, for example, are white. Some fear it will become more difficult to attract students of color to campus in the wake of the Supreme Court decision effectively ending affirmative action. But perhaps Wisconsin legislators can look to Texas for solutions. For more than a decade, the Texas university system has reserved spots for the highest performing students at each of the state’s high schools. It has been very effective at increasing campus diversity. Now, 65% of students at The University of Texas are non-white. Wisconsin lawmakers are said to be considering a similar plan, granting admission to schools in the UW System if they finish in the top 5% of their class. That admits students based on their achievements, not the color of their skin. Adopting such a plan would also encourage more high -performing Wisconsin students to remain in-state for their higher education. Wisconsin lawmakers should give this idea a good look, if they are truly concerned about increasing diversity at UWL and other system campuses.