In the Context of Higher Education, Which of the Following

In the context of higher education, which of the following statements best describes affirmative action?

A) It refers to the emphasis on certificates or degrees to show that people have certain skills, educational attainment levels, or job qualifications.
B) It refers to school practices that transmit nonacademic knowledge, values, attitudes, norms, and beliefs.
C) It refers to a system that rewards people because of their individual accomplishments.
D) It refers to the process of assigning students to specific educational programs and classes on the basis of test scores, previous grades, or perceived ability.
E) It refers to admission policies that provide equal access for groups, particularly women and minorities that have been historically excluded or underrepresented.