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J Dent Educ. 68(9): 932-937 2004
© 2004 American Dental Education Association
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Critical Issues in Dental Education

Perspectives on Affirmative Action in Academic Dental Institutions: The U.S. Supreme Court Rulings in the University of Michigan Cases

Melanie R. Peterson, D.M.D., M.B.A.; Joan E. Kowolik, B.D.S.; Gary Coleman, D.D.S., M.S.; Susan Dietrich, D.M.D.; Ana Karina Mascarenhas, B.D.S., M.P.H., Dr.P.H.; Michael McCunniff, D.D.S., M.S.; George Taylor, D.M.D., Dr.P.H.

Dr. Peterson is Associate Dean for Clinics and Postdoctoral Education, University of Louisville School of Dentistry; Dr. Kowolik is Assistant Professor, Pediatric Dentistry Division, Indiana University School of Dentistry; Dr. Coleman is Director of Oral Diagnosis, Baylor College of Dentistry; Dr. Dietrich is Director of Graduate Dental Education, Lutheran Medical Center; Dr. Mascarenhas is Director, Division of Dental Public Health, Boston University School of Dental Medicine; Dr. McCunniff is Associate Professor, Department of Dental Public Health & Behavioral Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry; and Dr. Taylor is Associate Professor, Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Direct correspondence and requests for reprints to Dr. Melanie Peterson, School of Dentistry, Room 218, University of Louisville, 501 S. Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40292; 502-852-2288 phone; 502-852-7163 fax; mrpeterson{at}louisville.edu.

Key words: affirmative action, diversity, admissions policy, racial/ethnic minorities, University of Michigan Supreme Court rulings, underrepresented minorities (URM)

Submitted for publication 05/18/04; accepted 07/05/04

In June 2003 the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of using race as a factor in higher education admissions decisions. This article considers the impact of the Supreme Court decisions on admissions procedures at selected academic dental institutions (ADI) and their parent institutions. We interviewed fifty-eight leaders considered to be individual stakeholders at seven ADI and their related parent institutions, state dental associations, and state legislatures using a common set of questions about the Supreme Court decisions. Educators from the ADI and their parent institutions were consistent in their responses that the rulings upheld affirmative action as necessary to achieve diversity. State organized dentistry officials did not appear to be as aware as others of the rulings, whereas legislators were mixed in their responses. Except for the University of Michigan undergraduate admissions procedures, it remains to be seen what the impact will be for other higher education institutions and for academic dental institutions. Although the rulings have provided guidelines for achieving diversity using race/ ethnicity as one of several factors, the rulings will possibly be challenged, thus requiring vigilance on the part of parent institutions and their ADI to ensure compliance with the spirit of the rulings and to avoid attack from opponents of affirmative action.






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