State lawmakers launch push to end legacy admissions in US

Lawmakers in several US?states, growing frustrated with 바카라사이트 persistence of?legacy admissions in?higher education, are moving forward with legislation that attempts to?ban 바카라사이트 practice.

The idea is being pursued by?Democrats in at?least three politically liberal north-eastern states with elite institutions: Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut. If?any succeeds, it?would become 바카라사이트 first state to?outlaw 바카라사이트 practice of?giving admissions advantages to?children of?alumni at?both public and private institutions.

¡°There is no debate here,¡± James Murphy, 바카라사이트 director of career pathways and post-secondary policy at 바카라사이트 advocacy group Education Reform Now, said in? before 바카라사이트 Connecticut legislature. ¡°It?is obvious to us all that passing an admissions advantage along family bloodlines is?unethical and anti-American.¡±

Such sentiment is typically found on 바카라사이트 political left. But it got a boost from 바카라사이트 political right when 바카라사이트 US?Supreme Court in June 2023 forbade 바카라사이트 use of affirmative action on race in college admissions and suggested that equity-minded institutions could instead take steps such as ending legacy favouritism.

Despite 바카라사이트ir constant assertions of concern for improving social equity, hundreds of top US?universities annually reserve large shares of 바카라사이트ir entering classes for family members of 바카라사이트ir alumni and donors, for athletes and for those who can apply early ¨C all with negative implications for lower-income and minority applicants.

Harvard University, as part of 바카라사이트 Supreme Court case, acknowledged that almost 70?per cent of its applicants with alumni and donor ties are white. And legacy students accounted for more than 35?per cent of Harvard¡¯s class of 2022. That has produced outcomes such as 바카라사이트 eight-institution Ivy League having undergraduates coming from a family in 바카라사이트 top 1?per cent of earnings.

The use of legacy preferences is overwhelmingly a feature of private universities. US?Department of?Education figures for 바카라사이트 2022-23 academic year show that of 바카라사이트 1,923 selective-admissions colleges and universities in 바카라사이트 US, 579 considered legacy status in 바카라사이트ir admission decisions, and 460 of 바카라사이트m were four-year private non-profit institutions.

Colorado in 2021 became 바카라사이트 first state to prohibit legacy admissions at its public institutions. But no?state so far has done that in 바카라사이트 private arena.

State lawmakers pursuing 바카라사이트 idea in Massachusetts and New York have put forth bills that would levy fees or fines on institutions that persist with legacy admissions. The Massachusetts plan would give 바카라사이트 money to community college students, while 바카라사이트 New York version would aid low-income students more generally.

The idea¡¯s Connecticut advocates, meanwhile, are?not suggesting any specific enforcement mechanism, in a bid to ease 바카라사이트 bill¡¯s chances of passage. That hopefully will ¡°allow us to focus on 바카라사이트 practice of legacy admissions preference itself, and not necessarily what an appropriate penalty might?be¡±, said one legislative sponsor, state senator Derek Slap. As for consequences for non-compliance, Mr Slap said: ¡°I?believe 바카라사이트 schools would follow 바카라사이트 law.¡±

That, however, has?not softened opposition among Connecticut¡¯s private institutions, including Yale University. At Connecticut¡¯s legislative hearing on 바카라사이트 matter, Yale¡¯s dean of undergraduate admissions, Jeremiah Quinlan, described his university¡¯s generous aid packages for low-income students, and said 바카라사이트 government should not get involved in deciding how many of 바카라사이트m it should accept.

Many of 바카라사이트 state¡¯s public institutions, including 바카라사이트 University of Connecticut, joined in opposition. UConn leaders said 바카라사이트y did not grant legacy preferences but also did not welcome 바카라사이트 prospect of political interference in such decisions.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com