Roadmap to Diversity and Educational Excellence

To create and sustain diversity in medical education, biomedical research, and the physician workforce, medical schools must build on their critical admissions work and transform their learning environments to maximize the benefits of diversity and inclusion for teaching, learning, and optimal patient care.

"Roadmap to Diversity and Educational Excellence" is designed to help medical schools establish and implement institution-specific, diversity-related policies that will advance their core educational goals with minimal legal risk.

This second edition includes new guidance associated with the June 2013 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in "Fisher v. University of Texas." More than just a legal update, this publication provides additional insights into relevant facets of law, policy, and research, to reflect the current challenges that medical schools face. A new chapter focuses on ensuring whether race-conscious policies are necessary, and a new appendix focuses on operational questions to consider when pursuing race-neutral strategies.

Achieving the educational and health care-related benefits that come from a diverse student body requires concerted, school wide efforts. You are encouraged to use this publication as a tool to guide collaboration and discussions among your institution's leadership, faculty, admissions, diversity affairs, financial aid, and recruitment officers, legal counsel, students, and others engaged in and affected by diversity-related issues.