Exploring the legal, social, and educational impact of the landmark affirmative action case.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard represents a defining moment in the legal and educational landscape of the United States. This landmark ruling effectively ended the consideration of race as a factor in college and university admissions, striking down decades of affirmative action precedent. In this course, legal professionals, educators, and policy analysts will explore the complex history, constitutional arguments, and far-reaching consequences of the case.
Through detailed analysis and expert commentary, learners will examine how the Court addressed issues of equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment, the role of race-conscious admissions policies, and the evidence presented by both SFFA and Harvard University. The course delves into the majority opinion authored by Chief Justice Roberts, the contrasting dissents by Justices Sotomayor and Jackson, and the broader ideological and legal shifts that shaped the outcome.
Beyond the courtroom, this course considers how the ruling reshapes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in higher education and potentially in employment and government contracting. It also prompts reflection on the future of race-neutral alternatives, legacy admissions, and evolving legal strategies related to educational access and civil rights.
Whether you're a legal practitioner, educator, or someone seeking a deeper understanding of the intersection between race and the law, this course provides the essential context and analysis needed to grasp one of the most consequential decisions of the decade.
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Julius L. Chambers Distinguished Professor of Law and the Director of the UNC Center for Civil Rights
Theodore "Ted" Shaw is the Julius L. Chambers Distinguished Professor of Law and the Director of the UNC Center for Civil Rights. Shaw teaches Civil Procedure and Advanced Constitutional Law and his research areas include the Fourteenth Amendment, affirmative action, housing policies regarding fair housing. Early in his career, Shaw practiced as a Trial Attorney in the Honors Program of the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. He also spent time at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) where, for over 26 years, Shaw litigated cases related to elementary, secondary and higher education, housing, voting rights and capital punishment. He directed LDF’s education docket, established LDF’s Western Regional Office in Los Angeles and eventually became LDF's fifth Director-Counsel. Prior to UNC, Shaw also taught at the University of Michigan Law School, where he played a key role in initiating a review of its admissions policy that was later upheld in Grutter v. Bollinger in 2003 by the Supreme Court. He's also held teaching positions at Columbia University School of Law, CUNY School of Law at Queens College and Temple Law School.
