On behalf of Otis College of Art and Design’s leadership, we want to share our institution’s response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions on Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina. The decisions directly affect all private colleges and the longstanding practices of higher education institutions, significantly narrowing how race can be considered in admissions policies.
We share with colleges and universities across California and the United States a deep concern that these decisions will have a chilling effect on applications and enrollment among historically underrepresented racial groups. This will have a negative impact on students, their families, the workforce, and society at large. Otis College, in particular, is committed to engaging and serving these students and their families: Over 70% of Otis students are people of color, and 30% are first-generation college students. Not only are we educating a diverse body of students, we are empowering the next generation of artists and designers to positively impact creative industries and the world.
We want to assure prospective college students that there will be a home for them at Otis College. Diversity and inclusion are core values of the institution, and the Otis Community is committed to our collective effort to create an inclusive campus invigorated by difference. These principles are integral to the learning experience and to the personal growth of all students. We are more committed than ever to engaging historically underrepresented communities and recruiting promising creatives of racially diverse backgrounds. We will continue to connect with underrepresented high school students to tell them: Otis College of Art and Design will embrace you, support you, nurture your creativity, and prepare you for success.
Otis College is proud that our students reflect a racially diverse global community, and we are committed to maintaining and increasing outreach and support. We are working with peer institutions, the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD), and the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities to develop best practices for engagement, service, and outreach within this new legal framework. We will not be deterred from our work to educate, uplift, and inspire all students.
Sincerely,
Charles Hirschhorn
President
Jiseon Lee Isbara
Provost
Mei-Lee Ney
Chair, Board of Trustees