What is the evidence that supports arguments for, or arguments against affirmative action policies in college admissions? Affirmative action is defined in Webster’s dictionary as "a policy or program for correcting the effects of discrimination in the employment of education of members of certain groups." There are many different types of advantage policies that no one seems to question. For example, there are many students who get privileges at universities because their parents or relatives are alumni. No one pickets or rallies against this practice. Minority groups are trying to keep affirmative action in order to make up for the lack of demographic and economic stability within the university and college population. A major problem facing higher e

ducation in American today is trying to increase the number of Blacks successfully graduating from institutions of higher education at all levels 2-year and 4-year colleges, graduate schools, and professional schools. Many educators, political leaders, civil rights’ groups, and other concerned organizations have expressed alarm in recent years trying to increase the percentage of Black high school graduates who go on to 4-yeart colleges and beyond. Yet, the enrollment of the traditionally underrepresented minorities has been increasing. Even more devastating is the fact that the graduation rate of Blacks from 4-year colleges, graduate schools, and professional schools has not leaped in numbers as well. What are the reasons for this situation? What are the potential consequences if these trends are not changed?

"The Civil Rights’ Movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s was in part a struggle to gain for minorities equal access to the nation’s institutions of higher learning" (Lang, p.514). Yet, over 40 years later, minorities are still underrepresented, as students and faculty at predominately White colleges and universities across the country. The unbalanced status of minorities in University's has generated considerable debate over the last few years. It was President John F. Kennedy that initiated affirmative action programs that were initiated to provide financial aid for minority students to pursue a college education. "During the early 1960’s, the federal government instituted such programs as the National Defense Educational Act (NDEA), the National Defense Student Loan program (NDSL), and work-study programs that made it easier for minority students (especially Blacks) to have the financial support necessary to attend college for the first time in the nation’s history" (Lang, p.515). Because of these programs, these students began to enroll in masses at colleges and universities. By the mid-1970’s the enrollment of Black students had reached an all-time high. The mainly Black colleges and universities felt the effects and collected the benefits because of the programs. The opposition of affirmative action began with the Reagan/Bush presidency's, decisions to not enforce policies on affirmative action. During this time, "substantial reallocations were made in federal student aid programs, with a significant impact because most minority college students depend on some form of federal financial aid" (Wilkerson, p.65). The decrease in support for minority student financial-aid programs defiantly hurt the access of minority students to institutions of higher learning. In addition, their inferior socio-economic status continues to be a large discouraging factor in gaining a college education. An increase of scholarship award programs would provide a means for helping minority enrollment in institutions of higher education. The poverty levels within the Black community have serious implications about the availability of funds to support higher education and for the ability of minority students to succeed in college once they get accepted. Minority families, in general, earn less than White families in the United States. Thus, fewer families’ have money availabl

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