"In the wake of last week’s landmark Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, which banned colleges from considering race as a specific factor in admissions, Republican officials in some states have sought to eliminate other higher education programs benefiting students of color," Yahoo News reports. 

... "To help make sense of what the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling could mean for race-focused scholarships and financial aid, Yahoo News asked Karen McCarthy, vice president of public policy and federal relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), 3 Big Questions. (This interview has been edited for length and clarity.)"

"1. Does the Supreme Court’s decision mention scholarships and financial aid for minority students? Karen McCarthy: The Supreme Court decision was exclusively focused on admissions policies, not on financial aid."

"2. What sort of guidance have you been giving to schools who have sought help from NASFAA? This isn’t an issue that affects every college because not all colleges have their own institutional aid to award to begin with. And some don’t take race into consideration in any way, shape or form. Those that think that it may end up impacting them are paying attention and are closely following the conversation as it develops. We have told them to consult with their school’s attorneys, look out for any forthcoming guidance that might come from the Department of Education and follow any mandates that might come from your state attorney general. Schools are for the most part in wait and see mode."

"3. What is your reaction to the Missouri attorney general directing colleges in his state to ban race-based scholarships? The Supreme Court took months to decide with regards to admissions, and I feel like considerations in the area of financial aid should also be as deliberative and thoughtful. So we would have liked to see not quite as reactive a response because there are many ways that institutions might consider race, and we feel like this was a pretty reactive decision that might not be considering all the nuances."

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

Publication Date: 7/6/2023