Following the Supreme Court's controversial, landmark decision to ban affirmative action in college admissions, the future of diversity in higher education hangs in the balance. In On the Basis of Race, Lauren S. Foley explores the past, present, and future of what has become one of the most contentious policies in the United States, providing much-needed insight into how colleges and universities-and the courts-have navigated race throughout history. From Brown v. Board of Education in the mid-twentieth century to present-day cases like Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, Foley shows us an educational landscape shaped by desegregation laws, diversity quotas, and other legal mandates in education. With vivid detail, she captures a rich, fascinating history of both resistance-and compliance-to the courts, including the timely role of admissions officers in combating today's attacks on diversity. Ultimately, Foley takes us behind the curtain of college admissions, shedding light on how educational institutions, including the University of Michigan, have employed promising, new strategies to protect student diversity in the face of widespread legal challenges.

On the Basis of Race traces the long, nuanced history of a divisive idea and policy, exploring how colleges and universities can interpret lessons from our past to navigate this affirmative action ban.