Dear Members of the Rhode Island SHRM Community,

On June 29, 2023, the United States Supreme Court issued an opinion in two related cases, Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina, curbing race-based affirmative action in higher education. RI SHRM echoes the statement of the Society for Human Resource Management on these decisions, particularly the following:

The U.S. Supreme Court has spoken and clarified the constitutional issues surrounding affirmative action plans in higher education. SHRM respects the rule of law. Whether or not one agrees with the ruling, we must all turn to the critical task of supporting higher education human resource professionals as they both comply with today’s ruling and develop innovative approaches to build better workplaces for an increasingly diverse workforce. SHRM will always be a part of finding solutions that deliver for organizations and the people they serve.

Although the decision does not directly address Diversity, Equity & Inclusion programs and efforts many of our colleagues lead in their daily employment settings, it serves as a reminder that organizations may want to carefully review such initiatives for potential areas of risk.

For members who would like to know more about the decision and how it might impact their DEI initiatives, RI SHRM invites you to join a program hosted by Diversity & Inclusion Professionals (DAIP) on July 11 (which you can register for here), or to reach out to RI SHRM leadership with questions. RI SHRM remains committed to supporting its members in navigating these important issues, and will endeavor to keep its members informed of any pertinent developments.

Yesterday’s ruling serves as a reminder of the vital role members of the RI SHRM community play in shaping the workforce of tomorrow. We uphold our values to; (1) provide support, networking, and education to the human resources community; (2) be inclusive and promote diversity; (3) be leaders in human resources and business strategies, driving best practices; (4) appropriately influence legislation and legislators.

We look forward to offering future programming to support the changing needs of the modern workforce and support you during this historic time.

Thank you, 

RI SHRM Board of Directors