The Eighth Annual Latina/o Education Summit

Fisher v. Texas: Implications for Latina/o

Educational Diversity

Friday, October 4, 2013

11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

UCLA Faculty Center

Sponsored by the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center

In cooperation with the UCLA School of Law

Due to limited seating, reservations are required and must be received by Friday, September 20, 2013, at https://2013latinoeducationsummit.eventbrite.com

The annual CSRC Latina/o Education Summit addresses topics not typically covered in

academic discourse on the education of U.S. Latinos. This year’s conference,“Fisher v.

Texas: Implications for Latina/o Educational Diversity,” will address the U.S. Supreme

Court’s 2013 ruling in Fisher v. Texas and its national implications for Chicanos and

Latinos and higher education.

The Supreme Court has held that educational diversity represents a compelling interest

and that race may be considered as one factor in admissions decisions. In Fisher, the

Court upheld, in theory, the constitutionality of race-based affirmative action in

university admissions. However, a close reading of the opinion reveals that the door to

future constitutional challenges may have been opened by the case. The opinion may be

read to imply that the explicit consideration of race may not be “necessary” to achieve

the educational benefits of diversity when effective race neutral alternatives are

available.

Although race-conscious admissions policies in public institutions are legally

permissible according to Fisher, they are not constitutionally required. Arizona,

California, Michigan, Washington, Florida, Nebraska, and New Hampshire have passed

voter referendums banning race-based affirmative action in higher education. However,

scholars have highlighted the negative impact which race-neutral admissions policies

have had on Latino representation in public university systems in California,

Washington, and Florida. Various studies establish that the explicit consideration of race

is indeed “necessary” for the promotion of meaningful diversity in public colleges and

universities in the United States.

Education Summit presentations will explore the significance of Fisher and other cases

that have directly affected Latinos' access to public education, as well as that of other

communities of color in the United States. This conference will also analyze Fisher v.

Texas within the broader context of affirmative action history. Presenters will discuss

policy-related ramifications for Latinos and higher education.

The eighth annual CSRC Latina/o Education Summit, "Fisher v. Texas: Implications for

Latina/o Educational Diversity," is sponsored by the UCLA Chicano Studies Research

Center (CSRC) in cooperation with the UCLA School of Law. The summit will be

hosted by Professor Chon A. Noriega, Director of the CSRC. Professor Rachel F. Moran,

Dean of the UCLA School of Law, will provide the keynote presentation. Carlos M.

Haro, Ph.D., is the coordinator of the CSRC Latina/o Education Summit series.

PROGRAM (subject to change)

11:30 a.m. Registration and Conference Sign-in

          UCLA Faculty Center, California Room

11:45 a.m. Welcome and Introductions

Carlos M. Haro, Education Summit Coordinator

Chon A. Noriega, Director, Chicano Studies Research Center, and Professor of Film, Television, and Digital Media, UCLA

12:00 p.m. Lunch and Keynote Address

Keynote Speaker:

Rachel F. Moran, Dean and Michael J. Connell Professor of Law, UCLA

School of Law

“Fisher and the Future of Diversity in Higher Education”

1:30 p.m. First Panel

Cheryl I. Harris, Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Professor of Civil Liberties and Civil Rights, UCLA School of Law

 “Reframing Affirmative Action in the Wake of Fisher v. Texas – Beyond Strict(er)

 Scrutiny”

Devon W. Carbado, The Honorable Harry Pregerson Professor of Law, UCLA

School of Law

“Diversifying Diversity”

Robert Chao Romero, Associate Professor, UCLA César E. Chávez Department of Chicana/Chicano Studies

“Fisher v. Texas in Historical Context: Policy Implications for Latinos in

Higher Education”

Sylvia Hurtado, Director of the Higher Education Research Institute and Professor in the Division of Higher Education and Organizational Change, Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, UCLA

“Advancing Access and Diversity in Institutions”

3:15 p.m. Break

3:30 p.m. Second Panel

Janina Montero, Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs, UCLA

“The Outreach Imperative: Strengthening the Education Pipeline”

Youlonda Copeland-Morgan, Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment

Management, UCLA

“Beyond Fisher: Mission Driven, Mission Focused”

Susan Wilbur, Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions, UCLA

“The Quest for Excellence and Diversity in UC Undergraduate Admissions: Policies, Implementation and Outcomes in the Post-Proposition 209 World”

4:40 p.m. Break

4:50 p.m. Concluding Session

 Summary of presentations, discussion of findings, and policy recommendations

Rachel F. Moran, Dean and Michael J. Connell Professor of Law,

UCLA School of Law

Chon A. Noriega, Director, Chicano Studies Research Center, and Professor of Film, Television, and Digital Media, UCLA

5:00-6:30 p.m. Reception

***

The 2013 CSRC Latina/o Education Summit is open to public. The fee is $30.00 paid in advance, for lunch, presentations, and reception. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis and must be made by Friday, September 20, 2013, at https://2013latinoeducationsummit.eventbrite.com. If you prefer a vegetarian or vegan meal, upon registering, please email the event organizer stating your meal preference. Use the button on the Eventbrite page or email csrccentral@gmail.com.

Directions to the UCLA Faculty Center can be found at:

http://facultycenter.ucla.edu/About-Us/Directions.aspx.

Parking rates at UCLA vary; please see: http://map.ais.ucla.edu/go/1001377

The CSRC Latina/o Education Summit Series

The CSRC Latina/o Education Summit series explores issues in Latina/o education from

kindergarten through graduate school, not only in the Los Angeles area but also

statewide and nationally. Previous summits have focused on obstacles and crises in the

areas of opportunity and access, undocumented students, and funding. The 2012

summit, “Law and Policy: Conversations across the Disciplines,” assessed the impact of

litigation and legislation on Latino education.

Policy briefs, programs, and other materials from the seven previous summits are

availableat http://www.chicano.ucla.edu/research/education.

Questions concerning the 2013 Latina/o Education Summit may be directed to: csrcinfo@chicano.ucla.edu or call 310-825-2363.

 Website: www.chicano.ucla.edu