ANN ARBOR—The National Black MBA Association has named the University of Michigan as the Outstanding Educational Institute of the Year during its annual conference in Nashville, Tenn. The award is presented to an educational institute that has made the greatest contribution toward encouraging Blacks to enter the field of business. U-M was honored for its court battle to weigh an applicant’s race or ethnicity when making admissions decisions at the Law School. “This is one of several awards the University has received for its commitment to diversity and excellence,” said Lester Monts, senior vice provost for academic affairs and senior counselor to the president for the arts, diversity and undergraduate affairs. “It also speaks volumes in support of the stand the University has taken in the courts to ensure that the halls of academia remain open to students from diverse backgrounds.” This is the second consecutive year that U-M was selected for the award. The conference was held in September. “The University of Michigan, and its law school, are fighting for a diversity plan that guarantees young people of all races access to a learning environment rich in varied cultures and steeped in traditions that they might otherwise never be exposed to,” said Alvin Brown, NBMBAA chairman. The National Black MBA Association is the world’s largest organization of black business professionals dedicated to promoting higher education and entrepreneurship among African Americans. The Chicago-based association, which began in 1970, has more than 6,000 members. For more information about the organization, visit http://www.nbmbaa.org.

Contact: Jared Wadley
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