AICAD Statement on Recent Supreme Court Ruling

In response to the recent Supreme Court decision reversing affirmative action, the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (of which Montserrat is a member) released a statement reaffirmed that diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice will remain a core value in the association’s member institutions going forward. The whole statement is reproduced below, and can also be read here.

The Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design (AICAD) takes this moment to restate its continued commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice as a core value of the associations and its member institutions. The recent decision by the Supreme Court of the United States in Students for Fair Admissions v Harvard and University of North Carolina does not in any way change this commitment. AICAD and its member institutions acknowledge that structural, systemic, historical, and intersecting forms of oppression require our ongoing attention, action, innovation, and leadership for positive change. We believe that contemporary arts and design education, thinking and making requires the full embrace of diversity, equity and inclusion. We are committed to providing learning environments and communities within which all can succeed. Given our specialized focus, we recognize that excellence embraces a range of aesthetic sensibilities and artistic motivations as well as, and often intertwined with, broad dimensions of diversity. Along with our students, faculty, staff, and boards, we strive to continually develop in order to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and global society. We understand that institutional practices and education rooted in the strengths of diversity equity and inclusion are fundamental.

If anything, in this moment we strengthen our resolve to continue to critically evaluate the systems and structures within which our institutions and disciplines in which we educate need to evolve to further promote equity, inclusion, and social justice. AICAD will work with legal counsel to understand the implications of the recent Supreme Court decision on current practices and programs both within the association and at member institutions to ensure that our efforts follow the letter of the law without retreating from our commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice.