The Supreme Court reached a decision about an issue Monday that university communities have been waiting to hear: affirmative action.
They ruled that race may be used as a factor in university admissions, but it cannot be used as the dominate element because it could lead to unconstitutional practices.
"We support the Supreme Court's decision that race is taken into account," vice president of student affairs and enrollment management Douglas McConkey said.
"We look at students holistically," McConkey said. Some of the factors that Ball State considers when admitting students include academic success, leadership skills, test scores and overcome obstacles.
"We try to assess who would be successful at Ball State," McConkey said.
Ball State does take race into consideration when students apply to the university but not at a level as that of University of Michigan's.
The University of Michigan works under a point system for its undergraduate admissions, which gives minority students extra points.
McConkey, who has worked at Ball State for 17 years, said the diverse composition of Ball State has increased over time. He the Latino population has noticeably increased.
McConkey said the university works to recruit students of varying races and ethnicities through recruitment programs. A couple of the programs include summer scholar programs and host programs.
"We're putting more of an effort to attract a more diverse group of students, faculty and staff," McConkey said.
McConkey stressed the importance of having a diverse composition at the university. McConkey pointed out that diversity is also important at the Ball State DAILY NEWS. The composition of those who applied for summer positions on the DAILY NEWS includes 17 people, two of whom are over the age of 25, one African American and 16 Caucasians.
"Ball State does a good job of bringing in a diverse group of students," assistant director of the multicultural center Anthony Casares said.
Casares said the Early Outreach Program brings in many African Americans, Hispanics and Asians from locations with a high concentration of minorities. He said some of these locations include Gary, South Bend, Fort Wayne and Indianapolis.
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