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Push for legacy admissions ban at New York universities expected in new year
By
Jessica Gould
Published Dec 27, 2024
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By
Jessica Gould
Published Dec 27, 2024
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Backers of a bill to prohibit legacy admissions at New York colleges and universities are gearing up for a big push in the state legislative session starting next month.
The Fair College Admissions Act would declare that admissions preference for the relatives of alumni amounts to discrimination against other students, including those from families without college degrees, underrepresented groups and immigrants. Under the bill, colleges and universities would have to abolish legacy preferences or pay penalties.
The proposed legislation is part of a growing effort to curb legacy admissions, which critics say gives the children of alumni an unfair advantage, particularly because those students are often already reaping the benefits that come with a parent’s diploma from an elite institution.
The effort comes in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling last year effectively ending race-conscious admissions in universities.
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, who introduced the bill, said the Supreme Court’s decision underscores the need to eliminate legacy preferences. After the ruling, Columbia, Cornell and New York universities all reported drops in the proportion of Black and Latino students who enrolled this fall.
“For me it’s an issue of fundamental fairness,” said Gounardes, a Democrat representing parts of Brooklyn. “Legacy admissions is nothing more than affirmative action for privileged students. … It’s inherently unfair.”
An association of private colleges, which initially opposed the bill, told Gothamist it has dropped its opposition.
“New York’s independent colleges and universities remain deeply committed to fostering diverse and welcoming campus communities," said Lola Brabham, president of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities. "While legacy admission has been an important recruitment tool for some New York colleges, we also recognize the public perception that the practice has the effect of expanding privilege instead of access and opportunity. We look forward to working with the state Legislature to ensure higher education is accessible to all.”
Some New York colleges maintain legacy priorities. Columbia University states on its website that some legacy applicants may have a “slight advantage” over comparable candidates. Columbia spokesperson Samantha Slater said the college has a “deep commitment to enrolling students who come from a variety of experiences and backgrounds.”
Several states have moved to get rid of legacy admissions, especially in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision.
Colorado banned legacy admissions at public universities in 2021, followed by Virginia last spring. Maryland and California recently banned alumni preferences at private colleges and public universities.
Research from the advocacy group and think tank Education Reform Now argues that “birthright advantage” for legacy students “represent a textbook example of systemic racism, since most beneficiaries of legacy preferences are white, while students of color and students from low- and middle-income households are much more likely to be the first in their families to go to college.”
The group found 65% of legacy students who attend the most selective colleges and universities come from the richest 5% of American households. Those students are also more likely to attend expensive private high schools known as “feeders” to the Ivy League and other prestigious colleges. Many legacy students from wealthy families have other advantages, too, like financial support for tutoring, test prep and extracurricular activities.
“We need to keep building up momentum and support,” said Gounardes, the state senator. “Now that we have this data for a full admission cycle, my hope is that my colleagues will see the light here and will agree with me that there’s no reason why we should perpetuate affirmative action for the privileged.”
Some colleges and universities have defended legacy admissions as a practice that builds loyalty and can motivate donations that the schools can then use for financial aid. Some universities have moved to make college free for families with incomes under a certain threshold. At Columbia, students whose families earn under $150,000 annually can now attend for free.
Tagged
education
new york state
economy
Jessica Gould
Jessica is the education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Jessica reported on the shutdown and reopening of the nation’s largest school system, highlighting the unprecedented impacts on learning, health and mental health for students, staff and families. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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