November 12, 2014

Statement from HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores on decision in Fisher college diversity case

San Antonio, TX – The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ (HACU) President and CEO Antonio R. Flores has issued the following statement on today’s Appeals Court decision in the Fisher v. University of Texas case.

HACU applauds the November 12, 2014, decision of the full (en banc) Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to refuse to hear a second round of Fisher v. University of Texas. We support the University of Texas’ efforts to be inclusive of underrepresented populations in its student body. Not only do states have a responsibility to provide educational opportunities for all their citizens, but, as earlier Supreme Court decisions have recognized, student diversity is an important element of a strong educational environment for all students.

Today’s decision lets stand the Fifth Circuit’s ruling by a three-judge panel that upheld the use of race in UT Austin’s admissions policies. The first round ended after the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the lower court to take a closer look at UT’s admission policy. A Fifth Circuit three-judge panel did so and upheld the constitutionality of UT’s policy. Ms. Fisher asked the full Fifth Circuit to review the case. It is possible, although unlikely, that the U.S. Supreme Court will again agree to hear this case.

About HACU

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) represents more than 450 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America and Spain.

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