URL:
https://www.naspa.org/blog/affirmative-action-a-moment-of-clarity-amongst-the-confusion

Reference:
Shorette II, C. R., & Smith, E. J. (2014). Affirmative action: A moment of clarity amongst the confusion. Home. Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.naspa.org/blog/affirmative-action-a-moment-of-clarity-amongst-the-confusion. 

- Research shows college admission officers focus recruiting efforts on wealthy, predominantly white high schools.
- In some states, prohibitions on affirmative action preclude any consideration of race in the admissions process.
- One area in admissions where there has been a rapid change since the start of the pandemic is the movement to make standardized tests optional.
-Fewer than 7 percent of colleges say race or ethnicity has “considerable influence” on admission decisions, while 17.8 percent say it has “moderate influence” and 16.9 percent “limited influence,” according to NACAC’s 2019 “State of College Admission” report.
-The journal Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis found “the elimination of affirmative action has led to persistent declines in the share of underrepresented minorities among students admitted to and enrolling in public flagship universities in these states.”

URL: https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2020/10/26/will-conversation-turn-action-when-it-comes-issues-racial-equity

Reference:
Redden, E. (2020). Inside higher ed. Will conversation turn to action when it comes to issues of racial equity in college admission? Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2020/10/26/will-conversation-turn-action-when-it-comes-issues-racial-equity. 

-Only California (1996), Texas (1996), Washington (1998), Florida (1999), Michigan (2006), Nebraska (2008), Arizona (2010), New Hampshire (2012), and Oklahoma (2012) where race-conscious admissions policies are illegal.
-Asian-American groups halted lawmakers' attempt to undo the affirmative action ban six years ago.
- Decades of court precedent have backed race-conscious admissions policies. 
-California's colleges could have created more programs to help ease the academic transition for disadvantaged students

URL: https://www.highereddive.com/news/california-is-closer-to-restoring-affirmative-action-in-college-admissions/580584/

Reference:
Bauer-Wolf, J. (2020, June 25). California is closer to restoring affirmative action in college admissions. Higher Ed Dive. Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.highereddive.com/news/california-is-closer-to-restoring-affirmative-action-in-college-admissions/580584/. 

URL: https://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm#amendments

Reference:
U.S. Const. Amend. XIV

such as employment and education. In institutions of higher education, affirmative action refers to admission policies that provide equal access to education for those groups that have been historically excluded or underrepresented, such as women and minorities. Admissions, Financial Assistance, Faculty Hiring, etc. (Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, 2014)

URL: https://supreme.justia.com/

Reference:
Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, 2014

The UT Austin admissions decisions it is based on a holistic review. Texas law offers eligible applicants automatic admission for those that are top 6% freshman applicants to public colleges and universities. Students have the right to submit an appeal if the admission decision is not what the student expected (Ut Austin, 2021). 

According to UT Austin Holistic Application Review (2021), the following items are considered during the holistic review:

URL: https://admissions.utexas.edu/apply/decisions

Reference:
UT Austin. (2021). Admission decisions. Admission Decisions | Undergraduate Admissions | The University of Texas at Austin. (2021). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://admissions.utexas.edu/apply/decisions.

URL:https://admissions.utexas.edu/apply/decisions/holistic-review

Reference:
UT Austin. (2021). Holistic Application Review. Freshman Admission Review | Undergraduate Admissions | The University of Texas at Austin. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://admissions.utexas.edu/apply/decisions/holistic-review. 

-The Justice Department demanded that Yale University end what it considers admission preferences for African-American and, to a lesser extent, Hispanic students. As a result, it is disadvantaging whites and Asians.
- Vedder (2020) has asked himself two questions over 50 years, what would happen if it were illegal for a college to ask students or employees wishing to join its community about their race? Or gather racial information in other ways, such as through mandatory in-person interviews, or required photographs from applicants?

People who disagree with Affirmative Action bring up multiple points.

People who agree with Affirmative Action have just as many arguments in favor of affirmative action as against it.

- Vedder (2020) believes that regardless if a person is in favor or against it, it should not be ignored. However, the authors recommend viewing it in a different approach aside from just their skin coloration or other physical attributes. For instance, provide additional support such as scholarship assistance to those that genuinely need it. Also, offer different after-school programs to assist students that struggle academically. New ideas are currently implemented, such as enrichment programs or after-school tutoring, but more aid has to be innovated.

URL: https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardvedder/2020/08/24/should-racial-information-even-be-collected-for-college-admissions/?sh=6d222a281fa

Reference:
Vedder, R. (2020, August 24). Should racial information even be collected for college admissions? Forbes. Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardvedder/2020/08/24/should-racial-information-even-be-collected-for-college-admissions/?sh=395c322e1fa5.