LANSING, Mich.
University of Michigan officials said Wednesday they will delay making new student admissions decisions until Jan. 10 as the school sorts out its options related to a state ban on some types of public affirmative action programs.
Michigan Provost Teresa Sullivan requested that faculty and staff delay the admissions decisions because of recent legal developments in the case, the university said in a written statement.
Last week, a federal appeals court struck down a deal that would have given the University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Michigan State University an extra six months to comply with some admissions and financial aid decisions related to Proposal 2. That means the law, approved by Michigan voters in November, now is in full effect.
The constitutional amendment bans the use of race and gender preferences in university admissions and government hiring and contracting.
The three universities have said they can’t finish the training, research and others steps necessary to implement Proposal 2 immediately. They sought an extension until July 1 to continue admitting students for next academic year under the rules that existed when that cycle began in 2006.
University officials say it is an issue of fairness to all students in the current admissions cycle, which mostly pertains to the entering classes of fall 2007.
UM continues to accept applications while it considers its next steps.
Proposal 2 likely will have a greater effect at UM than at any other state university.
The universities and lawyers for Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and state Attorney General Mike Cox agreed to the July 1 extension last month. The deal was approved by U.S. District Judge David Lawson.
But the deal was contested by the Center for Individual Rights, which represents Eric Russell, an Auburn Hills man seeking admission to the University of Michigan’s Law School.
The appeals court said last week that federal law does not warrant providing an extension.
The pro-affirmative action group that filed the original suit against Proposal 2, By Any Means Necessary, says it is prepared to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court if needed.
— Associated Press
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