UC 2030, I See Color: The Impact of Affirmative Action on California Higher Education

The Impact of Affirmative Action on California Higher EducationBroadly, what has been the long-term impact of Proposition 209, which repealed affirmative action in 1996, on higher education in California?Specifically, how have freshman undergraduate enrollment and graduation rates changed for different racial/ethnic groups at public universities, specifically University of California institutions, compared to private institutions from 1994 to 2022?To answer this question, I will analyze public and private colleges, comparing admission statistics and graduation outcomes to assess how the removal of affirmative action has influenced higher education outcomes for various racial/ethnic groups.This analysis aims to provide insights into the long-term effects of Proposition 209 in California and how similar policy decisions might impact students from different racial/ethnic groups on a national scale. CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCEAffirmative action is a program implemented by public, private, or government entities to address historical injustices faced by minorities, particularly in education and employment opportunities.The first mention of affirmative action appears in President John F. Kennedy's 1961 executive order, which required government contractors to take affirmative action to ensure fair consideration of candidates before and during employment, regardless of identity characteristics including more than race but sex, gender, or creed ("Affirmative Action in California").This