Today the Supreme Court of the United States issued its decision in the case of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina. As many anticipated, the Court has held that policies, programs, and practices that use race as a factor in admissions decisions are unconstitutional and violate the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
As a university and academic health system already deeply committed to health equity and increasing access to health science careers, we will carefully review the decision to ensure full compliance with it moving forward. That said, we believe that the opinion will have minimal effect on RUSH University operations and admissions policies. We consider the overall journey and life experiences of our applicants, including their academic performance, their character and personal stories, and their accomplishments and achievements in all areas of life. We are committed to doing all that we can to transform health sciences education through our culture of excellence, equity and wellness.
RUSH University is steadfastly focused on the promotion and preservation of the health and well-being of our diverse communities. This is only possible by embracing diversity, equity and inclusion. The University serves as a foundational component of the learning health care system by preparing students as clinicians and scientists for all areas of health care for all people – not just some. Significant evidence demonstrates that having diversity in the health care and the public health workforce helps to provide better care for all the populations we serve.
Achieving health equity is only possible when we prepare health care professionals to recognize inequity, call out the social determinants that cause it, conduct research and pilot innovative solutions to overcome it. RUSH University contributes to the workforce of health care professionals who not only reflect the diversity of the communities we serve but also are prepared with evidence-based solutions to remove barriers to health.
RUSH University will remain consistent with our educational mission and our commitments going forward.
Larry J. Goodman, MD
Interim President
Christine Kennedy, RN, PhD, FAAN
Interim Provost, RUSH University
John L. & Helen Kellogg Dean, College of Nursing