URM status for residency applications

[2012mdc]

http://www.med.umich.edu/rad/edu/apply.htm

I found this interesting

"Special consideration is given to women and minorities, as well as to University of Michigan medical students."

In the past I've heard that URM status means little for residency and this is the first time I've seen a program mention this. Is Michigan unique?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[TheBlend]

Thanks for posting this. I have been following the URM and Affirmative Action developments in MI for some time now, since U Mich is my #1 choice when I complete premed.

The failed challange on AA in Grutter v. Bollinger back in 2003 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grutter_v._Bollinger seemed to apply strictly to the Law school.

Then, the statewide AA ban in 2006 http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/09/us/politics/09michigan.html
applied to all state workers and all applying students of public universities.

But finally, this year the Supreme Court ruled in favor of AA and overturned the '06 ban.
http://ns.umich.edu/index.html?Releases/2003/Jun03/supremecourt2

According to U Mich Law School Dean Evan Caminker in that article ,
“This ruling will enable the Law School and other institutions of higher education to continue serving as a pathway to a more fully integrated society.”

And judging by the link in your post, the "other institutions of higher education" translates to include residency programs. So, my (not based on any legal training of any kind) assumption would be that all U Mich departments can and will factor URM and AA into admissions.

 

[Dartmouth2005]

Thanks for posting this. I have been following the URM and Affirmative Action developments in MI for some time now, since U Mich is my #1 choice when I complete premed.

The failed challange on AA in Grutter v. Bollinger back in 2003 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grutter_v._Bollinger seemed to apply strictly to the Law school.

Then, the statewide AA ban in 2006 http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/09/us/politics/09michigan.html
applied to all state workers and all applying students of public universities.

But finally, this year the Supreme Court ruled in favor of AA and overturned the '06 ban.
http://ns.umich.edu/index.html?Releases/2003/Jun03/supremecourt2

According to U Mich Law School Dean Evan Caminker in that article ,
“This ruling will enable the Law School and other institutions of higher education to continue serving as a pathway to a more fully integrated society.”

And judging by the link in your post, the "other institutions of higher education" translates to include residency programs. So, my (not based on any legal training of any kind) assumption would be that all U Mich departments can and will factor URM and AA into admissions.

Your legal analysis is off. Sorry. The ban is still on the books pending the Sixth circuit's en banc consideration of it. See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/11/michigan-affirmative-acti_n_957525.html

 

[TheBlend]

Your legal analysis is off. Sorry. The ban is still on the books pending the Sixth circuit's en banc consideration of it. See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/11/michigan-affirmative-acti_n_957525.html

Thanks for the correction/update. Any idea of what we should expect in the future?

 

[Dartmouth2005]

Thanks for the correction/update. Any idea of what we should expect in the future?

The Sixth Circuit has become one of the most liberal circuits in the country. The Ninth (the west coast) is probably the most. The 6th is based in Cincy, and it hears appeals from federal courts in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

One blog I read noted that it appears to be the most reviewed circuit in that it would make a liberal ruling and the conservative justices on the Supreme Court would reverse on appeal. http://volokh.com/2010/06/05/is-the-sixth-now-the-most-reversed-circuit/

http://pda-appellateblog.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html#1381778030154320915

Additionally, it has upheld Romneycare. See http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs...h-circuit-upholds-constitutionality-obamacare

The habeas entry is the most interesting in my opinion. I have done habeas work. The success rate is supposed to be about one percent. It speaks volumes about the 6th circuit that it is granting so many.

My thought as to the Michigan ban is that it will likely be upheld. The full Sixth Circuit (composed of around 20 judges) will reverse the decision of the 3-judge panel that heard the initial appeal. I think even that was a split of 2-1. Otherwise, why would they grant re-review of their prior decision? That is what most lawyers I know expect. It is possible too that they could uphold it on some other grounds considering a likely petition for writ of certiorari to the Supreme court but I think a reversal is more likely.