Utah College adopted a policy designed to produce a more diverse student body. Under the policy, the college uses a selection index on which an applicant may score a maximum of 150 points. Those whose point totals are 100 or above are certain to be admitted; those with fewer than 75 points are likely to be rejected; and those with between 75 and 99 points may or may not be accepted, the likelihood of admission increasing with their scores. Of the 150 possible points, up to 110 may be awarded for academic performance factors, including high school grade point average, standardized test scores, and quality of the high school. Up to 40 additional points may be assigned for other, non-academic factors, such as in-state residency, alumni relationships, personal essay, and personal achievement or leadership. Most of these nonacademic factors carry a low number of points (e.g. 3 for an outstanding essay, 5 for personal achievement or leadership, and 10 for in-state residency). However, any applicant who is an underrepresented minority receives 20 additional points. Is the Utah College student diversity policy constitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment?
a)No, because race cannot be considered at all in college admissions.
b) Yes, because the policy does not reserve any seats for underrepresented minorities.
c) Yes, because obtaining a more diverse student body qualifies as compelling interest.
d) No, because race is weighed very heavily as a plus factor that is dispositive in most cases.