What was the ruling in U.C. Regents v. Bakke in 1978?

The ruling in U.C. Regents v. Bakke in 1978 allowed race to be considered as one of several factors in college admissions decisions. This landmark Supreme Court case addressed the issue of affirmative action in higher education, particularly focusing on whether racial quotas could be implemented in university admissions processes.

The Court's decision concluded that while affirmative action programs aimed at increasing diversity could be constitutional, the specific quota system used by the University of California, which reserved a certain number of spots for minority students, was deemed unconstitutional. This unique ruling set a precedent by affirming that race could be a consideration in admissions but rejected rigid quota systems, thus promoting a holistic review of applicants that includes race among other factors. This decision has had a lasting impact on how colleges and universities approach admissions policies in efforts to create diverse student bodies.