SCOTUS Reconsiders Affirmative Action

 A view of the Supreme Court, January 16, 2015 in Washington, DC.

The Supreme Court is reconsidering Fisher v. University of Texas, a case that could have far-reaching consequences for affirmative action programs across the country.

Here's the short version: the University of Texas at Austin, a flagship state University, has two affirmative action methods. One is called the "percent plan," which means the university accepts any applicant who is in the top 10% of his/her high school graduating class. But the method in question is a secondary, supplemental admissions policy based on race.

"I'm sorry, the percent plan just hasn't been as effective as everyone says it is."

That's according to Stella Flores, associate professor of higher education and director of access and equity at NYU Steinhardt Institute for Higher Education Policy. She says her research proves that the percent plan alone does not meet the "educational mission" of the university.