Maine Law comprises a diverse, engaged community where consistent commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging are core values.
We acknowledge that in its decision in Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. University of North Carolina and SFFA v. Harvard, the United States Supreme Court declared unconstitutional certain admissions procedures used by the defendant institutions that had been intended to promote racial and ethnic diversity. Maine Law, having always employed a holistic approach, fully intends to follow the constitutional guidelines announced by the Court regarding admissions procedures.
To be clear, however, the SFFA decision has no impact whatsoever on Maine Law’s values or its commitment to diversity, both within our law school community and in the legal profession more broadly.
But diversity alone is not enough. Diversity without inclusion, and inclusion without belonging, are not enough. Justice and equity demand a commitment to action in our community; they demand a constant commitment to inclusion and the creation of a culture of belonging and equity. Maine Law strives to imbue those commitments in every aspect of our community, from recruitment and retention of faculty, staff, and students, to curriculum and student life. None of that has changed with the pronouncements of the Court in SFFA.