A Message from President R. Gerald Turner Regarding Supreme Court Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court handed down a landmark 6-to-3 decision today (June 29) that selective colleges and universities cannot use race as a factor in admissions. The decision has nationwide implications. SMU President R. Gerald Turner issued the following statement regarding SMU and all its schools, including the Cox School of Business.
June 29, 2023
From the Office of the President
Dear Campus Community,
As we reflect on the June 29th U.S. Supreme Court decision on the use of race in university admission practices, let me reassure you of SMU’s dedication to our mission and core values – including our commitment to an inclusive student body, faculty and staff.
Our community is enriched by a broad range of differences on our campus and in our classrooms, including geographic origin, gender, age, race, cultural identity, economic backgrounds, physical abilities, sexual orientation, personal talents, and political ideologies. This diversity, woven into the academic excellence of SMU, serves as a catalyst for our students to be culturally intelligent and excel as critical thinkers and compassionate citizens, equipping them for a globally interconnected world.
Despite the implications this ruling may have on policies and practices at SMU and every other college campus in America, we will continue to be a welcoming and supportive community. We will determine how the specifics of the high court’s ruling will affect the consideration of race in our enrollment efforts. We will meet this challenge while continuing to build a community that mirrors our global society – a campus where every Mustang is valued and feels a sense of belonging.
Change can be unsettling, but SMU has a long history of adapting and growing in the pursuit of our mission. As world changers, our students and researchers embody the dynamic culture of the communities they seek to transform. Although we are committed to sharing information and working through these changes together in a manner that maintains our values, it will take some time for the University to analyze the ruling and its impact. I want to thank you in advance for your patience during this process.
Be assured, we will meet the future, both its challenges and its opportunities, as we always do – as Mustangs.
Sincerely,
R. Gerald Turner
SMU President
