Michael Bastedo and Marsal School alum Ryan Henyard featured in new Michigan Online Teach-Out

A new week-long Teach-Out on affirmative action in higher education, offered by Michigan Online, provides historical context of affirmative action and the role it has had in college admissions. The Teach-Out also explores cases in states where affirmative action was already banned prior to the 2023 ruling, and discusses the need for colleges and community members to be a part of building equitable educational opportunities for everyone. The Teach-Out features contributors representing diverse disciplines and experiences in the broader higher education community, including Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, Michael Bastedo, and DEIJ Educator and Consultant, Ryan Henyard (AB '07, AM '19).

​​With the recent U.S. Supreme Court ban on the use of race-based affirmative action in college admissions, higher education institutions across the United States are grappling with what this means for their campuses and communities, especially those that must now alter their current admissions practices to comply with the ruling. This nationwide ban on affirmative action in college admissions will likely have long-lasting effects on not only the diversity of U.S. college campuses, but the diversity of professions and economic mobility.

“It’s important for people to realize that the court didn’t eliminate affirmative action entirely in college admissions. That’s what was feared to have happened, but the decision itself is quite a bit more nuanced,” says Bastedo in a video for the Teach-Out.

In another video, Henyard says: 

“Now that we’re here, there shouldn’t be any excuses for not trying courageous scholarships and bold approaches to address problems based off of the scholarship and research that we’ve done at our institutions that we have in-house.” 
 

The Affirmative Action in Higher Education Teach-Out will be available until October 2, 2023.