Weekly Briefing: If 'Roe v. Wade' Is Overturned, What Does That Mean for Colleges?

The Supreme Court's leaked draft opinion, if it stands, could bring immediate and long-term consequences for colleges. ADVERTISEMENT [Weekly Briefing Logo]( Did someone forward you this newsletter? [Sign up free]( to receive your own copy. What does a world without “Roe v. Wade” mean for colleges? This week’s news that the U.S. Supreme Court will probably vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, the legal precedent that established access to abortion as protected by the Constitution, was shocking, even if many had already been anticipating that outcome. On Monday night, Politico [published a leaked draft opinion]( from the court. The justices will issue the final ruling this summer on the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. If the draft opinion remains unchanged, both Roe and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the 1992 case that largely reaffirmed the decision, would be struck down, and many states would criminalize abortion. This means that many colleges would have to quickly adapt to all of the implications for campus life without abortion access. Instructors across the country are already reporting that [students are disengaged](. And many students [cited emotional distress]( as a reason for their disenchantment. Abortion restrictions could complicate students’ already difficult private lives. For medical schools, the summer decision may bring confusion about what they’re allowed to teach. Later, restrictive laws may alter where students choose to attend medical school. Though it’s not required by accreditors to offer [abortion education and training]( some medical students want a med school that offers the training or is in a state where it will not be criminalized. In the longer term, many colleges may struggle to recruit and retain professors, who may resist moving to states with aggressive abortion laws. This comes at a time when many colleges are already [caught in the crossfire of the country’s culture wars](. Faculty members at some state institutions are worried about academic freedom and [politically appointed governing boards](. Some Republican lawmakers have limited colleges’ abilities [to impose vaccine]( mandates during the Covid-19 pandemic. Potential abortion restrictions would only add to that already challenging mix. Some states have “trigger laws” in place that would ban most abortions if the Supreme Court overturns Roe and Casey. While some instructors may not want to take jobs in states with a such laws, many instructors don’t have that choice. Many of those jobs would have to be filled by instructors off the tenure track, in what is still a tight labor market. Barrett Taylor, an associate professor of higher education at the University of North Texas, told our Nell Gluckman that that could lead to a body of faculty members who are “easier to dismiss,” either by not paying attention to them, or by firing. [Read Nell’s full story here](. ADVERTISEMENT Lagniappe. - Learn. Last month, The New York Times Magazine asked artists to give advice to their peers in their early, mid, and late careers. [Browse the interactive advice here](. (The New York Times Magazine) - Read. A writer moves to Regina, Saskatchewan, and finds comfort in the long stretches of darkness. If you’re an early riser who works before the sun comes up, [this essay is for you](. (Harper’s) - Listen. Do you think you [have an accent]( or do you think you speak pretty neutrally? [This podcast]( explains that there is little information on a decline in distinct American accents. 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