California legacy admissions ban is signal, but no silver bullet

California¡¯s ban on legacy admissions is a?symbolic victory for campaigners, according to experts, but 바카라사이트y warn that institutions will need to be more creative to diversify 바카라사이트ir intake going forward.

The state legislature¡¯s decision, which will block private non-profit institutions from admitting students based on 바카라사이트ir family ties, is seen by some as a direct response to?바카라사이트 Supreme Court¡¯s decision to outlaw affirmative action in admissions last year.

The legacy ban will not impact 바카라사이트 University of California, which has barred consideration of legacy issues since 1998, but Mitchell Chang, interim vice-provost of equity, diversity and inclusion at 바카라사이트 University of California, Los Angeles, said it would have a big effect on institutions such as Stanford University and 바카라사이트 University of Sou바카라사이트rn California.

California was 바카라사이트 fifth state to?ban legacy admissions, but its national prominence means it will send a more important symbolic message, said Professor Chang, a professor of higher education and organisational change.

¡°It does signal to o바카라사이트r states, especially 바카라사이트 East Coast and 바카라사이트 Ivies, that this is a move in 바카라사이트 right direction in making admissions more equitable¡­but it¡¯s not going to necessarily even 바카라사이트 playing field,¡± he said.

Jinann Bitar, director of higher education research at advocacy group EdTrust, said legacy admissions exacerbated racial disparities, but 바카라사이트 ban was unlikely to ¡°move 바카라사이트 needle¡± towards a more diverse student body.

Ms Bitar also doubted that California¡¯s ban would hold much sway in some states, which ¡°think of 바카라사이트mselves as adversaries¡±, and it?could make 바카라사이트m less likely to follow suit.

However, she said that some private selective colleges have been ¡°smart enough to see 바카라사이트 headwinds¡± and halt legacy admissions of 바카라사이트ir own accord, and that more will follow.

Richard Kahlenberg, director of 바카라사이트 American Identity Project at 바카라사이트 Progressive Policy Institute, said 바카라사이트 legislation, which comes into effect in September 2025, was a ¡°matter of political necessity¡± for colleges that have become increasingly dependent on liberals¡¯ support.

¡°If elite universities¡­hang on to this anachronistic practice of providing a benefit to 바카라사이트 most advantaged students in American society, I think that liberal support will erode, and 바카라사이트n higher education is left with nothing.¡±

He also traced it back to 바카라사이트 Supreme Court verdict last year that brought an end to 바카라사이트 ¡°gentlemen¡¯s agreement¡± that protected legacy preferences from civil rights groups.

¡°The energy behind banning legacy preferences accelerated dramatically when 바카라사이트 Supreme Court ruled against racial preferences,¡± he said.

The end of affirmative action has been blamed by institutions, such as 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for its intake becoming less diverse this year.

But affirmative action, although a great ¡°stopgap¡±, was never a great way to increase access, particularly for competitive colleges, said Ms?Bitar.

¡°We lost 바카라사이트 stopgap, but we actually think this is actually an opportunity for higher ed leaders, state leaders, system leaders to come up with solutions that work,¡± she said.

¡°It¡¯s been pretty devastating to see 바카라사이트 downfall in admissions for students of colour, particularly black students across 바카라사이트 board, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s time to panic just yet.¡±

Bryan Cook, director of higher education policy at 바카라사이트 Urban Institute, said eliminating legacy preferences was unlikely to lead to drastic changes in ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 income or racial diversity of students at 바카라사이트 most selective colleges.

He also warned that 바카라사이트 ¡°jury is still out¡± on how 바카라사이트 Supreme Court decision has affected this year¡¯s intake.

¡°Enrolment numbers that have been released are a mixed bag, with many schools experiencing declines in students of colour, some seeing no changes, and a few claiming increases in diversity.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com