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Legacy admissions have been under renewed scrutiny after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action across colleges and universities last June, banning considerations of race in applications.
Many selective colleges give a boost to the children or grandchildren of alumni during the admissions process, making them more likely to gain admission.
Is the practice of giving preferential treatment to applicants with family ties to alumni unfair? Or should it be preserved?
In “Virginia Bans Legacy Admissions in Public Universities and Colleges,” Colbi Edmonds writes about a law passed in March aimed at ending a century-old practice that some believe perpetuates privilege:
Virginia will end legacy admissions at public universities after Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill on Friday banning the practice that gives applicants with family ties to alumni a boost.
Under House Bill 48, public universities in the state will be barred from giving preferential treatment to applicants based on their connections to not only alumni but to donors as well. That means universities can also no longer give an advantage to applicants whose relatives make donations to the school. Critics of such preferences have said for years that the century-old practice perpetuates privilege.
The ban will notably affect the University of Virginia and William & Mary, which are among the country’s more selective public universities. Virginia Tech, another prestigious public university, already announced last year that it would no longer take an applicant’s legacy status into account in the admissions process.
The law, which passed unanimously in the Virginia House of Delegates and the State Senate this year, will take effect July 1, after admissions decisions have been made for this fall. Mr. Youngkin, a Republican, said in a statement in January that he believed “admission to Virginia’s universities and colleges should be based on merit.”
Virginia is the second state to ban legacy admissions, after Colorado, and similar legislation is being considered in New York and Connecticut, among others.
State Senator Schuyler T. VanValkenburg, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, said he was pleasantly surprised by the bipartisan support for the ban. He said he hoped Virginia’s decision will lead other states to follow suit, which he said would help promote diversity in college admissions.
“It’s kind of an indefensible policy, especially in light of affirmative action being declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court,” Mr. VanValkenburg said in an interview. “There’s a lot of ways you can measure merit, but we know that legacy admissions is really not about merit at all.”
While there is growing bipartisan support for ending legacy admissions, the article notes that some are in favor of preserving the practice and oppose the Virginia bill:
But critics of such measures argue that there are adverse effects to banning legacy considerations and that minority students could actually benefit from having familial connections in higher education. There are also concerns about the impact on alumni donor relations if legacy admissions are no longer allowed.
This year, an organization of conservative Virginia alumni known as the Jefferson Council expressed being split on the Virginia legislation.
“We are of two minds,” James A. Bacon, the group’s executive director, wrote in an email. On one hand, he said, intergenerational families tend to be more loyal and generous to the university. “On the other, we support merit-based admissions based on character and academic achievement.” The group did not immediately respond to a request to comment on Sunday.
My students, read the entire article and then tell me:
Should colleges and universities get rid of legacy admissions? Is it unfair to give preferential treatment to applicants with family ties to alumni?
What’s your reaction to the Virginia bill ending legacy admissions at public colleges and universities in the state? The article notes that Virginia is the second state to ban legacy admissions, after Colorado, and that similar legislation is being considered in New York and Connecticut, among others. Should other states follow suit? Do you think many will?
Critics of legacy preferences argue that the century-old practice “perpetuates privilege” and that ending it will “help promote diversity in college admissions.” Which arguments from the article against legacy admissions are most convincing?
Others, however, warn that banning legacy considerations will have adverse effects, arguing that “minority students could actually benefit from having familial connections in higher education” and that “intergenerational families tend to be more loyal and generous to the university.” How persuasive is the case for preserving legacy admissions? Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who signed the bill, said that “admission to Virginia’s universities and colleges should be based on merit.” Do you agree? What factors do you think colleges and universities should take into account when considering whom to admit?
Many selective colleges give a boost to the children or grandchildren of alumni during the admissions process, making them more likely to gain admission.
Is the practice of giving preferential treatment to applicants with family ties to alumni unfair? Or should it be preserved?
In “Virginia Bans Legacy Admissions in Public Universities and Colleges,” Colbi Edmonds writes about a law passed in March aimed at ending a century-old practice that some believe perpetuates privilege:
Virginia will end legacy admissions at public universities after Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill on Friday banning the practice that gives applicants with family ties to alumni a boost.
Under House Bill 48, public universities in the state will be barred from giving preferential treatment to applicants based on their connections to not only alumni but to donors as well. That means universities can also no longer give an advantage to applicants whose relatives make donations to the school. Critics of such preferences have said for years that the century-old practice perpetuates privilege.
The ban will notably affect the University of Virginia and William & Mary, which are among the country’s more selective public universities. Virginia Tech, another prestigious public university, already announced last year that it would no longer take an applicant’s legacy status into account in the admissions process.
The law, which passed unanimously in the Virginia House of Delegates and the State Senate this year, will take effect July 1, after admissions decisions have been made for this fall. Mr. Youngkin, a Republican, said in a statement in January that he believed “admission to Virginia’s universities and colleges should be based on merit.”
Virginia is the second state to ban legacy admissions, after Colorado, and similar legislation is being considered in New York and Connecticut, among others.
State Senator Schuyler T. VanValkenburg, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, said he was pleasantly surprised by the bipartisan support for the ban. He said he hoped Virginia’s decision will lead other states to follow suit, which he said would help promote diversity in college admissions.
“It’s kind of an indefensible policy, especially in light of affirmative action being declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court,” Mr. VanValkenburg said in an interview. “There’s a lot of ways you can measure merit, but we know that legacy admissions is really not about merit at all.”
While there is growing bipartisan support for ending legacy admissions, the article notes that some are in favor of preserving the practice and oppose the Virginia bill:
But critics of such measures argue that there are adverse effects to banning legacy considerations and that minority students could actually benefit from having familial connections in higher education. There are also concerns about the impact on alumni donor relations if legacy admissions are no longer allowed.
This year, an organization of conservative Virginia alumni known as the Jefferson Council expressed being split on the Virginia legislation.
“We are of two minds,” James A. Bacon, the group’s executive director, wrote in an email. On one hand, he said, intergenerational families tend to be more loyal and generous to the university. “On the other, we support merit-based admissions based on character and academic achievement.” The group did not immediately respond to a request to comment on Sunday.
My students, read the entire article and then tell me:
Should colleges and universities get rid of legacy admissions? Is it unfair to give preferential treatment to applicants with family ties to alumni?
What’s your reaction to the Virginia bill ending legacy admissions at public colleges and universities in the state? The article notes that Virginia is the second state to ban legacy admissions, after Colorado, and that similar legislation is being considered in New York and Connecticut, among others. Should other states follow suit? Do you think many will?
Critics of legacy preferences argue that the century-old practice “perpetuates privilege” and that ending it will “help promote diversity in college admissions.” Which arguments from the article against legacy admissions are most convincing?
Others, however, warn that banning legacy considerations will have adverse effects, arguing that “minority students could actually benefit from having familial connections in higher education” and that “intergenerational families tend to be more loyal and generous to the university.” How persuasive is the case for preserving legacy admissions? Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who signed the bill, said that “admission to Virginia’s universities and colleges should be based on merit.” Do you agree? What factors do you think colleges and universities should take into account when considering whom to admit?
