The United States Department of Education (ED) and the United States Department of Justice issued this guidance to explain how, consistent with existing law, postsecondary institutions can voluntarily consider race to further the compelling interest of achieving diversity. It replaces the August 28, 2008 letter issued by ED's Office for Civil Rights entitled "The Use of Race in Postsecondary Student Admissions." This guidance addresses the degree of flexibility that postsecondary institutions have to take proactive steps, in a manner consistent with principles articulated in Supreme Court opinions, to meet this compelling interest. As the Supreme Court has made clear, such steps can include taking account of the race of individual students in a narrowly tailored manner. In four sections, the guidance: (1) describes the relevant legal framework for considering race to further the compelling interest in achieving diversity in postsecondary institutions; (2) sets forth considerations for postsecondary institutions in their voluntary use of race to achieve diversity; (3) summarizes key steps for institutions seeking to achieve diversity; and (4) provides examples of ways that, in light of this guidance, postsecondary institutions may choose to advance this compelling interest.