Virginia Tech is committed to equity, human rights, and human dignity. If we acknowledge the fact of historical exclusion and believe that we must play some role in correcting that exclusion, where better to act than here, in our own professional community, where we can make significant changes. Affirmative action is a matter of sound social policy. Through social policy and action, we can bring word and deed more closely together. We can begin to realize the values we readily uphold and advocate.
Affirmative action is also the law.
The most recent court decisions have not changed that. Any university, for example, signing a research contract with the government of one million dollars or more is subject to review regarding affirmative action and equal opportunity. Affirmative action is consistent with the University's historical mission to offer a college education to previously neglected and largely rural populations who had little access to American higher education in the 19th century. The land-grant universities of the late 20th century have now transposed their historical commitment into affirmative action programs for those who, in this century, have been excluded from educational and professional opportunity. We live in a diverse, multi-cultural society.