Dear CCA Community,

Many of you may be following the Supreme Court’s pending decision regarding whether and to what extent race may be factored into admissions decisions for both private and public colleges, widely known as affirmative action. The SCOTUS has twice upheld the merit of racial considerations in admissions in the past 20 years, and we anticipate that the specific ruling on the Students for Fair Admissions case will impact the use of race and ethnicity in college admissions. 

We at CCA know that a culturally diverse and inclusive campus is integral to academic excellence. We firmly believe in providing educational opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and regardless of the final decision and the legal challenges to educational equity practices that may follow the SCOTUS ruling, our values remain the same. 

We are a community of artists, designers, writers, and architects with the vision to lead cultural change. CCA cultivates ideas and impact, educating students as change-makers through purposeful practice, and our focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is at the heart of what we do.  It ensures everyone has an opportunity to thrive. At CCA, students discover their voice, learn from peers and mentors, refine their skills, and completely reinvent themselves – all of which wouldn’t be possible without a welcoming and inclusive environment that seeks diverse perspectives.  

You may have questions and concerns about what the pending decision means for our community, and we hope to provide you with some clarification. Regardless of the decision, there will be no change to CCA’s undergraduate or graduate admissions policies. Our practice has always used a holistic review of each applicant to the college; we do not use specific data points to determine admissions. Each individual applicant file is comprehensively reviewed by our admissions counselors or designated graduate program faculty. Next, the applicant is reviewed for admission based on that comprehensive recommendation. 

We continue our commitment to understanding each applicant’s work, their unique and individual experiences, and their future potential contributions to the CCA community, and the world, as determining factors in their admissions to the college. Improving access and opportunities for underrepresented groups is essential and vitally enriching for everyone. We will continue working toward our goals to increase diversity among our students, staff, faculty, and trustees; to develop a pedagogy and curriculum that reflects social and cultural diversity; and build a campus community that supports and values diversity.

As the decision unfolds, we will be following closely and will continue to stay in communication with the CCA community. 

Sincerely, 

Steve Beal, President and CEO

Dr. Scott Cline, Senior Vice President of Enrollment Management & Auxiliary Services

Tricia Brand, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging